《Please Support Revenge》 Chapter 1.1 From a very young age, Lobelia thought she was the hero of the world. With a family so loving, she had nothing to envy. Her father, James Evelentia, with his impeccable skills and sharp wit, managed to turn his family into the wealthiest house in the empire, all the while not forgetting to be a loving father. Lobelia, our princess, he would often say. In Lobelias memory, the image of her father smiling brightly at her with outstretched arms was as clear as day. Even though she had forgotten everything else, she couldnt forget that one scene. She still remembered the feel of his frizzy beard against her cheek and the sound of her own laughter. Our darling. Whatever my daughter wants, this daddy will give you. Her father would always look at her daughter with admiration, as if he was staring at the most precious thing in the universe. Growing up, Lobelia was constantly surrounded by beautiful lace dresses and sparkling jewels and delectable puddings with butterfly decorations. Her home overflowed with the love of her parents. She believed her joy was eternal. Little did she know, it was all a trick of the world to turn her into a villain. When Lobelia turned three, her father was found dead. With only the suspicion of murder and no significant evidence found, the case was inevitably closed without resolution, and disputes arose within the family over the distribution of land. Money calls for blood, they say. At the death of his father, many coveted the wealth of the family. James had written a will prior to his passing, but it was unofficial and did not have much effect as it was not notarized. Because of this, even relatives who did not bother to attend his funeral began to pester Julia, his wife. Some even forced her to remarry. Julia, the sole heir in his will, tried to protect her familys fortune and Lobelia, but there was little she could do, as she was a gypsy with ethnic blood, and was subtly despised by the nobility. One day, Marlon, James older brother and Lobelias uncle, came to visit her. He had said, I will save you. marry me. You wouldnt want to marry a rogue, do you? Julia felt as if she had no choice. As a woman, she could not protect Lobelia, nor could she allow the hyenas to constantly prey on her family for their selfish greed. Eventually, she agreed to his proposal, but with one condition: everything left behind by his late husband must be inherited by his daughter, Lobelia. Of course. I promise, in honor of the dead, Marlon had said, his words as sweet as honey. As soon as the wedding was over, Marlon unleashed his true nature. He was a greedy maniac. He beat Julia every day, starved her, and threatened to kill her daughter if she didnt listen to him. If Julia rebelled in the slightest, he locked the mother and daughter for three days in a tiny room without a single ray of light, giving them only water to share. In the end, Julia inevitably signed a memorandum to surrender Lobelias inheritance in order to survive. But the memorandum alone could not satisfy Marlons greed. Lobelias birthright remained a threat to him. Hed point his finger menacingly at the three-year-old child, who cowered behind the shadow of her beaten mother. Julia feared that Marlon would harm Lobelia, so she lied that her child did not have Evelentias blood running in her veins, naming herself an adulterous woman who had given birth to an illegitimate child through an affair. It was humiliation worse than death, but death wasnt an option in the first place. After that, Julia and Lobelia were exiled to the countryside, where they lived in peace and unspoken regret. Though incomparable to the luxurious lifestyle they had enjoyed in the capital, Julia was content. Though her hands were full of calluses and bruises, her life was not in constant jeopardy. She was never beaten, never locked up in a tiny room without light, and never starved. Ultimately, Julia learned how to accept defeat. That was what she taught her daughter as well. Until the thirteen-year-old Lobelia suffered a mysterious fever. In the countryside, where there were no proper doctors or medical facilities, Lobelias fever could not be cured. After debating for several days and nights, Julia finally decided to go to the capital. Chapter 1.2 After ten years, Julia visited Marlon, begging him to save her child. But he only looked at the sickly child with eyes colder than ice. Why should I do that? If Lobelia dies naturally from a fever like this, Id be very happy. Dont forget, I only spared you because of my reputation, was his cruel reply. The reason Marlon didnt kill Julia as soon as she signed the memorandum was because he was a man of status. For him, it was a whole different story to accept her as a wife and abuse her secretly, and to kill her altogether. Julia bit her lip until it bled. Desperate, she took something from her pocket. Marlons eyes instantly twinkled at the sight of it. What she had to offer must have swayed Marlon. Not only did he commission the temple of the capital to treat Lobelia, he also accepted Julia and Lobelia as members of the military. His generosity then earned himself the reputation of a philanthropic noble who accepted the wife of his deceased brother and a child born out of wedlock. Julia and Lobelia, on the other hand, were harshly treated as leeches feeding on Marlon. Julia could only grit her teeth and endure the insult. Out of pity, Marlon gave Julia and Lobelia a separate house and left them alone. Now that he had taken everything, there was no need to bother the two of them. But Marlons second wife, Josephine, was different. Josephine was highly speculative and mean-spirited. She humiliated Julia and Lobelia in every possible way and abused them without Marlons knowledge. Once, Josephine called Julia and made her kneel before her to recite verses of an old book while a bucket of ice was being poured over her. A woman should not speculate, she should not be greedy, and she should always be submissive to the head of the household Julia trembled in despair as she recited the verses of the book. Josephine slapped Julias cheek with a distorted smile. Apparently, she hadnt tortured her enough. Because of you, I had to divorce Marlon once. He doesnt give me and my daughter enough affection because of you! Unable to suppress her anger anymore, Josephine took out a whip. It was the same whip that Marlon once used to abuse Julia. You wormy bitch! she screamed as she swung the whip. Julia, who was already suffering from hypothermia, eventually lost consciousness. Lobelia, who had been kneeling next to her, reciting passages from an old book as well, screamed, Mom! Josephine, too, was surprised when Julia collapsed. She quickly called the doctor. From that day on, Julia was ill for two months. Lobelia nursed her mother day and night, never leaving her side. One night, Lobelia was dozing next to the bed when she faintly heard her mothers cries. Lia Mom? Lobelia opened her eyes wide. Julia was staring at the ceiling. She was barely breathing, and it was no exaggeration to say that she was no different from a corpse. Why, she cried, did we become like this? Thousands of years flashed across her empty eyes like a lantern. Lia, I, II have failed as a mother. Julia sobbed in between words. I just, to my daughter I wanted you to have a peaceful life Its justuh, where..did it go wrong A stream of her blood poured from Julias mouth. Without even thinking to grab a towel, Lobelia wiped the blood with her bare hands. But no matter how much she wiped, blood kept oozing out. Mom, please, Stop talking now. Thats enough, Lobelia begged. Our daughter, our poor daughter Mom is sorry Lobelia hurriedly opened her mouth to say she was okay, that it was not her mothers fault their life turned out miserable. But before she could utter the words, Julia convulsed and did not awake anymore. Lobelia stared blankly at Julia, who was losing her warmth. She reached out her trembling hand and gently shook Julias shoulder, but there was no response. Her stomach turned and tears started falling. Her legs lost strength and it felt like she would never be able to stand up again. Where did it go wrong? What have I done wrong that my mother and I have to suffer like this? It seemed that joy would forever be a stranger to her. *** The shock from Julias death and the fatigue that had accumulated for over two months left Lobelia unconscious for three days. When she awakens, Lobelia shall discover the existence of the original and learn the secrets of the world. Chapter 2.1 In the illusion, Lobelia was standing in the midst of a gigantic camp. When she lived in the countryside, she sometimes saw Julia perform magic, so Lobelia knew that this camp belonged to gypsies. There was a huge golden pedestal in the center of the camp, and on top of it was a dazzling book she had never seen before. As if possessed, Lobelia approached and picked up the book. Her instincts were screaming at her to read it. ¡°Original?¡± Lobelia muttered as she read the title, whose meaning she could not grasp. Lobelia opened the book with her trembling hands. It was a story of the world. There, Lobelia was a villain and the heroine was Aina, Marlon¡¯s daughter and Lobelia¡¯s cousin. In the Original, Lobelia seeks vengeance on Marlon and Josephine for destroying her life. Their only daughter and Lobelia¡¯s cousin, Aina, is not spared from her wrath. Lobelia marries a rich old man to acquire fortune, and then she harasses Aina with all sorts of dirty tricks. At the climax of the story, she curses Aina with the blood of a gypsy. Bullied by Lobelia, Aina lives a miserable life until she meets the male protagonist. Aina and the male protagonist defeat Lobelia and live happily ever after, inheriting the fortune left by her father, Marlon. The fact that Lobelia was actually Evelentia¡¯s blood and that she was merely a poor woman victimized by Marlon¡¯s conspiracies were only briefly divulged in the side story, its purpose only to intensify Aina¡¯s character in the scene where she forgives the cruelty of Evelentia with tears, having discovered her circumstances. As Lobelia flipped through the pages, the energy of the book resonated with the gypsy blood flowing through her veins. Instinctively, she knew that this book held some kind of truth. Lobelia felt wretched. Was this the reason her mother had to die? She couldn¡¯t care less if she was the villain¡ªshe was only one because this book seemed to be told from the perspective of a child. If she herself inked the pages, there would be an entirely different story. Lobelia felt herself burning in rage. All this time, she was made to believe that she was not her father¡¯s daughter, whom she loved dearly. So many scorned her, hurling spiteful accusations against her. She now only realized how unjust her life had been, and she could no longer tolerate it. Marlon was the beginning of it all. So brazenly he asked for Julia¡¯s hand, only to covet her fortune and deprive her of legitimacy. My mother died because of my uncle¡¯s stupid greed. When Lobelia closed her eyes, she could hear Julia¡¯s weak voice, apologizing just before her death. Lobelia couldn¡¯t stand it. She suffered a pain she shouldn¡¯t have gone through and what was rightfully hers was easily stolen from her. When Lobelia returned to her senses, the people of Evelentia stormed her house and took Julia¡¯s body. Lobelia begged Marlon for a proper burial for Julia, but Marlon refused to listen. He only said, ¡°Your mother will be cremated. She has committed infidelity, and she cannot be buried in Evelentia¡¯s family tomb.¡± That day, Lobelia was left alone in the outhouse, curled up in the cold all night. How could those people be so shameless? It felt as if her heart was being squeezed. Her body felt heavy and her feet refused to stand. Even moving was difficult for her. How can I continue to live? Lobelia was losing all her reasons to live, about to be overcome in misery. Suddenly, a voice echoed in her head. ¡°Let¡¯s take revenge,¡± it said. Perhaps it was her own subconscious. Lobelia opened her eyes. Warmth returned to her fingers and her legs gained strength. Lobelia slowly lifted herself. Moving her body wasn¡¯t as difficult as before. Voices echoed inside her head again. ¡°Let¡¯s take revenge.¡± ¡°Never let anyone bother you again.¡± ¡°Never lose anything again.¡± Her grief at the loss of her mother became the oil that burned her will. If she could take all that Marlon had and cause him the same pain she had suffered, perhaps her raging thirst for justice would be quenched a little. She wasn¡¯t interested in Aina; she didn¡¯t even care about her partner. Had she not known the truth, she might have turned the arrow of hatred to an easy target, Aina. In the Original, she awakens as the villain at twenty-two. But she knew exactly what she had to do now. What Marlon took away was the glory of the House of Evelentia which her father had toiled to earn and the legitimacy of Lobelia. If Lobelia regained Evelentia, it would be revenge for Marlon. At that moment, a milestone was set on the path Lobelia decided. Chapter 2.2 The cool breeze slithered through the open window while Lobelia contemplated. ¡°There are three certificates that prove the legitimacy of a noble,¡± she muttered to herself. ¡°Birth, registration, and baptismal.¡± When witchcraft was not yet spurned, paternity was confirmed through magic. However, the times have changed. Nobles now depended on yearbooks and family registers. Unfortunately, Lobelia¡¯s registration and birth certificates were already incinerated by Marlon. In the Original, he had done it when he exiled Lobelia and Julie to the countryside. All that was left was the baptismal certificate, whose whereabouts remained unknown even to his uncle. At the least, Lobelia was certain of its existence. Besides, there were implicit hints in the Original. However, finding it alone wouldn¡¯t suffice. Even if she proved herself to be a descendant of Evelentia, if she lacked power, she would only be trampled by Marlon again. She needed power, and where was power often found? ¡°In wealth,¡± Lobelia muttered, her eyes widening. She needed wealth to be protected and to defend her claim. But she knew she couldn¡¯t take away Marlon¡¯s riches through ordinary means. Lobelia looked down at her own hands, whitened by the cold wind. A thought crossed her mind. If following the rules wouldn¡¯t grant her victory, then she must deviate from the common way. Who decided that the wealth of Evelentia shall only be inherited by an Evelentia? If her blood alone was useless, she shall turn herself into another person to seize Evelentia. Once power is in her grasp, only then will she reveal her true birthright and impose vengeance upon those who drove her into despair. Then everything that was stolen will return to its owner. Lobelia closed the window and sat on the bedside, grabbing a pen and paper. In order for her to become another person, Lobelia needed a faithful ally to build her power and ensure her safety. But was there such a person in this world? Lobelia did not believe in faith. The reason she and her mother were deprived of everything was because they were foolish to believe in Marlon¡¯s ¡°good faith.¡± And he knew it, so he easily manipulated the two of them. Still, Lobelia had no intention of inflicting violence on anyone else. She didn¡¯t want to become the same person as his wicked uncle. Lobelia found herself fortunate for seeing the truth. Otherwise, she would have become a monster no less than Marlon. Aside from violence, what other means can hold people down? Lobelia wondered. After Julia signed the will and was banished to the countryside, Marlon no longer interfered with their lives. Marlon knew she wouldn¡¯t dare to challenge him, and what made him certain was the fact that he knew her weakness. Julia¡¯s weakness was her own daughter, Lobelia. Marlon knew that Julia would do anything to protect Lobelia. Then, Lobelia decided, I shall use someone¡¯s weakness. To have that faithful ally she needed, she must wield their weakness against them. On a sheet of paper, Lobelia neatly wrote down the names of the powerful characters in the Original, including their weaknesses. When she finished her list, Lobelia stared at the names with determined eyes. ¡°Jade Ferrado,¡± Lobelia muttered. He was the rival of the male protagonist. He was politically and ideologically at odds with the male protagonist, whom he drove to death. Jade Ferrado was the only duke in the empire and his swordsmanship skills were second to none, making him a great threat to the male protagonist. Lobelia had only seen Jade Ferrado once when she was fifteen. It was at a swordsmanship competition during summer. Originally, it was a competition that Lobelia could not attend, but Aina insisted on her company. Lobelia had to stand under the scorching sun without a hat as she accompanied Aina until the contest was over. Jade Ferrado was the victor of the competition. In the final match, he overpowered his opponent with a grueling sword technique that astonished his audience. Even as his opponent gushed blood and the referee signaled the end of the match, he did not stop attacking until his opponent finally collapsed. He merely looked down on the man who had succumbed to his sword with his cold red eyes, like a demon from the underworld. When it was time for the awarding ceremony, wherein the knight¡¯s honor had to be dedicated to a lady, he was far from a gentleman. With minimal courtesy, he handed flowers to his sister-in-law, and turned around to leave. Lobelia fiddled with her pen as she looked down at the list with sunken eyes. She doubted if she could dominate such a man just because she knew his weakness. But she couldn¡¯t give up now. No one met Lobelia¡¯s conditions as much as Jade Ferrado. ¡°Let¡¯s do it,¡± Lobelia muttered, mustering her courage. She tore the paper into several pieces and threw it into the hearth. What can¡¯t I do for revenge? When the papers turned into ashes, Lobelia rose and looked out the window. Seeing her own haggard reflection in her window, she smiled in dismay. I have nothing more to lose. * * * Those were the circumstances that led to Lobelia¡¯s visit to the Duke of Ferrado. Chapter 3.1 ¡°Miss Lobelia of the Count of Evelentia.¡± In the duke¡¯s parlor, Lobelia fixed her veiled hat. She could hear the attendants whisper among themselves while their staring burned holes in her back. ¡°That famous illegitimate child of a gypsy?¡± spoke one. ¡°How disgraceful,¡± said another. ¡°How does she keep her head up? If it were me, I wouldn¡¯t even be able to show my face in the capital.¡± Lobelia stared straight ahead, her gaze unwavering. They could gossip to their heart¡¯s content, and Lobelia wouldn¡¯t care at all. She was already accustomed to this kind of reaction. Whenever people in the capital saw her, they would frown and express contempt as if she was a garbage unworthy to breathe the same air as theirs. ¡°Taking advantage of the count¡¯s daughter¡¯s favor and pretending to be a noble,¡± muttered a maid, ¡°How pretentious!¡± Lobelia couldn¡¯t help but laugh. She, pretending to be an aristocrat? It was the count¡¯s daughter who sought her company, forcing her to participate in the nobles¡¯ ceremonies and whatnot which hardly piqued her interest. Lobelia did not desire to endure discriminant glances toward her, whether they were a noble or a commoner¡ªshe hated it. Lobelia took a sip from the teacup, ignoring the murmurs around her. A little while later, a man who seemed to be the duke¡¯s lieutenant appeared. ¡°Did you say you brought Count Evelentia¡¯s message?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Lobelia replied. ¡°It¡¯s important, so I was told to deliver it directly to the Duke of Ferrado.¡± Of course it was a lie. There was no message from the count. Lobelia merely needed a believable excuse to meet the duke, Jade Ferrado. In the past, Aina would treat her as handmaiden to deliver letters and gifts to other nobles. Her experience should make her seem credible enough. ¡°Come hither,¡± gestured the lieutenant. Fortunately, he seemed to be unsuspecting. Lobelia was ushered into the duke¡¯s study. As the lieutenant left, she stared at the back of the duke who was looking out the window. Lobelia waited silently. ¡°You have brought a message from Count Evelentia?¡± At last, Jade Ferrado turned to face Lobelia. His eyes were as red as blood and as cold as ice at the same time. His dark hair was slicked back and the buttons of his clothes were left unfastened, as if to reveal his sculpted chest. Above all, there was something savage about his princely charm. Everything was just as Lobelia remembered when she was fifteen. ¡°Well, then.¡± The duke urged Lobelia to speak. ¡°Let¡¯s see what it¡¯s about.¡± Lobelia took a long breath. This was the beginning. ¡°May I sit down?¡± she asked. At Lobelia¡¯s question, Jade raised one eyebrow. He examined Lobelia with squinting eyes and then nodded, ¡°As you wish.¡± Lobelia sat across the table from him and confessed, ¡°It was a lie that I brought you a message.¡± ¡°Not surprising.¡± Contrary to her expectations, Jade reacted more calmly than she anticipated. ¡°The only one who treats you like a handmaiden is Lady Aina, the forbidden jade of Evelentia,¡± he continued. ¡°Count Evelentia is not someone to leave a message in the hands of just anyone.¡± Lobelia looked him in the eye. ¡°If you allowed me into your home then it means you¡¯re willing to listen to me, am I correct?¡± ¡°Well,¡± Jade laughed at Lobelia¡¯s assumption. ¡°It¡¯s true that I¡¯m curious. Why did Evelentia¡¯s disgraced illegitimate daughter want to see me, to the point of telling a lie?¡± ¡°I came to ask the duke for a deal,¡± Lobelia replied firmly. ¡°A deal?¡± Jade snorted.¡±I don¡¯t think you have anything to offer me.¡± As expected, he refused before she could elaborate on the details, but Lobelia didn¡¯t care. Even she found her proposal absurd. In fact, she deemed it a wonder how the duke hadn¡¯t summoned his lieutenant yet to kick her out. ¡°It¡¯s certainly a deal that will benefit the Duke.¡± ¡°Yeah?¡± Jade perked an eyebrow at her insistence. ¡°What do you want from me and what can you give me?¡± Lobelia straightened her back, her green eyes deepening like an old well. ¡°Let¡¯s start with what I want,¡± she began. ¡°Please accept me as ward of the Duke of Ferrado.¡± ¡°Please accept me as the guardian of the Duke of Ferrado.¡± ¡°A ward?¡± Jade repeated. ¡°Yes,¡± Lobelia nodded. ¡°I heard that the Duke of Ferrado accepts and supports promising adolescents as his ward. I¡¯d like to be part of that.¡± Initially, Lobelia had planned to suggest a fake marriage. If she became the mistress of the Duke of Ferrado, she could easily seize the gold of Evelentia. But a fake marriage¡­ How could she propose something so absurd to the duke? Whatever the truth may be, Lobelia was now a commoner without a drop of noble blood. Most of all, she was the daughter of a gypsy. A marriage between her and a duke, the noblest bloodline in the empire, would be an insult. No matter how great the card Lobelia held, it was impossible. ¡°Being a ward isn¡¯t all you want. What do you plan to do if you become one?¡± Jade asked. Lobelia replied, feeling glad that their conversation progressed quickly, ¡°I want to start a business.¡± ¡°Business,¡± Jade nodded his head. ¡°What kind?¡± ¡°Anything that earns me gold,¡± answered Lobelia. Jade frowned as if he didn¡¯t understand. ¡°Why the hell would you do that?¡± he asked. Lobelia smiled faintly. The words she was about to utter should have caused her to be nervous, but strangely, she laughed. ¡°I intend to reclaim the House of Evelentia.¡± ¡°¡®Reclaim¡¯?¡± ¡°Yes, I am the true owner of Evelentia.¡± ¡°Then the rumor¡­¡± Jade trailed off. He, too, was aware of a rumor that had been circulating long ago, that the count, blinded by his brother¡¯s fortune, had turned his niece into an illegitimate child. Marlon schemed meticulously and left no trace, but there were those who knew the truth behind his lies. Unfortunately, there was no evidence, and taking Lobelia¡¯s side was not simply advantageous, so people refused to speak of it openly. ¡°What I need is gold and legitimacy,¡± Lobelia continued, ¡°Now that I have thought of a way to prove my identity, shouldn¡¯t I proceed to make Evelentia¡¯s wealth my own?¡± Jade stared at Lobelia in silence. It wasn¡¯t until quite a while before he spoke again. ¡°I heard that Evelentia¡¯s illegitimate daughter is quite sickly and timid, but she¡¯s very different from those traits,¡± Jade said, observing the girl seated across him with interest. She was certainly thin and pale, but he could not believe that those eyes belonged to a sickly girl. ¡°Rumors are often exaggerated,¡± Lobelia replied with a stiff voice that showed no emotion. Her body was weakened by Marlon and his wife¡¯s abuse, but she wouldn¡¯t choose to display her fragility. It was also true that she was withdrawn and timid, until she discovered the truth in the Original. Chapter 3.2 ¡°Well,¡± Jade asked, ¡°During the swordsmanship competition, didn¡¯t you collapse in the audience? I don¡¯t think it¡¯s simply a rumor.¡± Lobelia¡¯s eyes widened in surprise. She hadn¡¯t expected him to be aware of that. ¡°How do you know?¡± she asked him. ¡°It¡¯s been a long time, but I still recall the one side of the crowd having a commotion,¡± Jade replied. He did remember Lobelia, but he didn¡¯t seem to care much about her. ¡°I had forgotten to bring my hat,¡± Lobelia retorted, ¡°and it was too hot that day.¡± ¡°If you say so.¡± Jade nodded and clasped his hands together. ¡°Now let¡¯s hear what you can give me.¡± Lobelia steadied her gaze on the duke. His silhouette was deepened by the sun behind him. ¡°I can solve the Duke¡¯s biggest concern.¡± ¡°My biggest concern?¡± Jade questioned, knitting his eyebrows. ¡°Yes,¡± Lobelia nodded gravely. Jade, on the other hand, laughed dryly. ¡°Don¡¯t say that you¡¯ll make the dukedom independent from the imperial family or restore the duke¡¯s heirloom. Contrary to what many people believe, that¡¯s not what I want,¡± he said coldly, wiping the smile from his face. ¡°I know,¡± replied Lobelia. Jade paused at Lobelia¡¯s crisp answer before asking, ¡°You know?¡± Lobelia smiled. She had waited and waited for this moment to come. ¡°The Duke¡¯s greatest desire is to be freed from the curse of the unknown.¡± Many things unfolded in a mere moment. Lobelia watched Jade stand from his seat and in the next second, a sword had threatened her neck. Jade glared at Lobelia with hostile eyes. ¡°How,¡± he growled, ¡°do you know that?¡± Unfazed, Lobelia laughed despite the blade inches away from her throat. All this time Jade Ferrado had been looking down at her from his high horse, and now the tables have turned. Lobelia had managed to provoke him enough for him to unsheathe his sword. This way, she could get him to accept her proposal. ¡°I¡¯m a gypsy¡¯s daughter,¡± Lobelia said softly. Jade remained silent, narrowing his eyes at Lobelia. He wouldn¡¯t withdraw the sword until she came up with a convincing explanation. ¡°My mother taught me a lot about the magic of the people and the gypsies. She also taught me how to recognize someone who has been under witchcraft. As soon as I saw the Duke at the swordsmanship competition, I knew.¡± Lobelia¡¯s eyes gleamed. ¡°You¡¯re cursed, sire.¡± Needless to say, every word was a lie. Julia wanted her daughter to live a peaceful life; hence, she did not share any knowledge of the gypsies with Lobelia. It was through the Original that Lobelia learned about Jade¡¯s curse. Jade took his sword away. It seemed Lobelia¡¯s reasoning sounded quite convincing. However, Lobelia stayed cautious. The sword may be taken, but it was alive. One mistake and she¡¯d have her life in jeopardy. ¡°You¡¯re afraid to fall asleep every night. Every time, you wonder what kind of demon will appear and consume you.¡± The duke¡¯s gaze faltered at Lobelia¡¯s words. It was a secret he had kept to himself. Unbeknownst to others, Jade Ferrado was cursed by something horrible that consumed his being until he¡¯d eventually lose his humanity. According to the Original, the duke went out to subjugate immigrants on the orders of the emperor and was attacked by a man who practiced sorcery. Normally, the duke is able to suppress the curse, but whenever he wields his sword, the curse overpowers him without his knowledge. The curse was the reason why he had acted like a sadistic man during the swordsmanship battle. ¡°I can break that curse,¡± Lobelia said. ¡°How?¡± Jade asked reluctantly. He wanted her gone at this very moment to deny this curse she claimed he had. But he knew he shouldn¡¯t. If he remained the way he was at this rate, he¡¯d turn into a monster in five years. ¡°The curse creeps on you when you fall asleep, and it¡¯s especially powerful at night. Wait, can I take out what I¡¯ve prepared?¡± asked Lobelia. Jade nodded, and Lobelia took a small perfume bottle from her pocket. Not only did she discover the duke¡¯s curse in the Original, she also gained knowledge in magic. ¡°This is a sleeping potion I made. It¡¯s only a temporary solution and not the definite cure, but by using this you¡¯ll know whether or not I¡¯ve been truthful.¡± Lobelia placed the bottle on the table and said, ¡°If you confirm that what I say is true, summon me¡±. When Jade didn¡¯t say anything, Lobelia lowered her head in a small bow and took her leave. With Lobelia gone, Jade sank into a chair and exhaled the breath he had been holding. His eyes glowed dangerously as he stared at the potion suspiciously, eventually holding it in his hand. * * * Lobelia quickly returned to his uncle¡¯s manor after her visit to the duke. She hoped her arrival wouldn¡¯t alert anyone, but unfortunately, the person she least wanted to run into was waiting for her. ¡°Lobelia,¡± called Marlon. He was trimming the branches of a flowering tree in the garden when Lobelia arrived. Lobelia swallowed involuntarily, not from fear or worry, but to resist the urge to snatch the scissors from Marlon¡¯s hands and stab him at once. Marlon looked down at Lobelia with his sunken eyes and questioned her, ¡°Where have you gone for so long?¡± ¡°I went to the temple to pray.¡± Lobelia pulled out a token of blessing from the temple. She had stopped on her way out of the duke¡¯s residence to pick it up. After Julia was cremated, Lobelia continued to pray at the temple where her mother¡¯s ashes were stored. ¡°Oh dear, you must have gone there again,¡± Marlon sighed. ¡°It¡¯s good to pray in the temple, but in the future, be punctual and come back. Isn¡¯t it already past the afternoon tea time?¡± ¡°I am your protector,¡± Marlon added, ¡°and I hope you don¡¯t do anything that worries me.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lobelia replied, lowering her eyes. ¡°I¡¯ll keep that in mind.¡± ¡°Good. Now go where you need to be.¡± Marlon ordered, oblivious to his niece¡¯s thoughts. Lobelia waited until Marlon disappeared before heading to the outhouse. Upon arriving, she took off her robe and draped it over the chair, sighing. She had expended a lot of energy pretending to be docile. Oh how badly she wanted to stab him right then and there, but he should not die an easy death. You¡¯ll have to taste everything I¡¯ve been through. She had already taken the first step, which was meeting the Duke of Ferrado. The only thing she could do now was await his reply. To congratulate herself for a job well done, Lobelia headed to the kitchen to brew herself some tea. Suddenly, there was a knock on the door. Chapter 4.1 Lobelia turned the doorknob carefully and opened the door slightly to peek through the crack. Suddenly, the door swung open before she could even identify the guest. She hurriedly took a few steps back to avoid the door from hitting her. ¡°Sister, sister!¡± A young and cheerful voice erupted from the door. Her blonde hair shone under the sunlight like melted honey while her blue eyes glittered like the deep ocean. ¡°Miss Aina,¡± Lobelia muttered in greeting. She was not expecting a visit from Aina. Even though they were blood-related cousins, Lobelia had to treat Aina with formality. She was an illegitimate child, after all. Supposedly, Aina should treat Lobelia as her subordinate, but Aina only said she was happy to have a friend at her age and started to call Lobelia as her sister since she first saw her. Lobelia didn¡¯t like the way Aina addressed her, as whenever Aina called her ¡°sister,¡± Josephine glared at her fiercely, and sometimes punished her for being presumptuous. Lobelia had told Aina to address her properly many times, but Aina wouldn¡¯t listen. She would ask her with despondent eyes, ¡°Why? Does my sister hate me?¡± If you call me sister, I get hurt, Lobelia had thought. Time and again, Lobelia indirectly told her that Josephine was abusing her every time she summoned her. But Aina simply shook her head and denied the atrocities she claimed that her mother did to her, saying, ¡°What are you talking about? That can¡¯t happen. Everyone in Evelentia feels sorry for you!¡± She¡¯d look at Lobelia sadly. Though it was not so much a denial, for she sincerely believed that her mother would do no such things. Aina looked at the world with innocent eyes, but her naivety only led to her ignorance. For her, who grew up as fine as a flower, the world was like a perfectly trimmed garden from the beginning. She never thought that insects and worms hid under the blossoming bushes. So Lobelia decided that when Aina came to her, she would be moderately sympathetic and quickly send her back. Now that she was determined to take revenge on Marlon and Josephine, she was even more annoyed at Aina¡¯s frequent visits. Aina was only a year old when Marlon stripped Lobelia of her lineage and inherited the fortune that should have been Lobelia¡¯s. Though Lobelia found it unfair, her anger was not directed at her. Thinking that she should deal with Aina properly today, Lobelia turned to Aina as she spoke. ¡°I heard you went to the temple. You¡¯re having a hard time because of Julia¡¯s death, aren¡¯t you?¡± Aina clasped her hands together and looked at Lobelia with sullen eyes. ¡°I¡¯m thinking of having a simple tea party at the mansion in two days. Do you want to come?¡± she asked. ¡°It¡¯ll be a diversion.¡± Lobelia chuckled unknowingly. She didn¡¯t have to witness with her own eyes to know what kind of humiliation she would suffer if she attended a tea party where noble ladies gathered. It was already obvious, but Aina, as expected, was always oblivious. She couldn¡¯t simply see the hostility of the nobles toward Lobelia even though it was as plain as day. Lobelia politely refused her invitation. ¡°I don¡¯t think I can fit in there, Miss Aina,¡± she said. ¡°Why?¡± Aina asked cluelessly. ¡°It¡¯s a place where Lady Aina¡¯s friends gather. If I go, the guests will be uncomfortable.¡± Aina widened her eyes at Lobelia¡¯s words and shook her head. ¡°Absolutely not, sister! My friends wouldn¡¯t be uncomfortable with my sister. I¡¯ll scold them if they are! So don¡¯t humble yourself like that.¡± Humble myself? Lobelia thought. She had no intention of doing so, but Aina had misrepresented Lobelia¡¯s intentions. Lobelia couldn¡¯t say anything more, so she just kept her mouth shut in hopes that Aina would get annoyed at her disengagement and leave on her own accord. Aina¡¯s lively chatter lasted for a while until her excitement gradually waned. When she suddenly exclaimed, Lobelia thought she¡¯d finally declare her leave. ¡°Sister, can I be by your side today?¡± Aina said, clinging close to Lobelia. ¡°Tell me interesting stories while we eat delicious foods. I¡¯m sure it¡¯ll comfort you, too. ¡°I don¡¯t think so, miss. I feel exhausted because I had walked to the temple earlier.¡± Lobelia flatly refused, realizing that she could no longer push Aina away with just silence. ¡°Oh¡­¡± Aina mumbled. She couldn¡¯t hide her frustration and kept staring at Lobelia. Even now, she was waiting for Lobelia to change her mind and play with her. But Lobelia has had enough, so she decided to be frank. ¡°Can you go back now?¡± she said. Aina eventually relented and walked out of the outhouse. Lobelia let out a long sigh and stared at Aina¡¯s back as she disappeared into the mansion. The desire to drink tea had long disappeared. Lobelia wondered if she had been nervous during her audience with the duke until she felt a heavy rush of fatigue. If I fall asleep like this, I¡¯ll definitely skip dinner, she thought, but what does it matter? No one cares anyway. She lay flat on the bed and closed her eyes. Not long, she fell into a deep slumber with the hope that she would no longer be involved with Aina. Little did she know that tomorrow she still wouldn¡¯t be freed from Aina¡¯s existence, and that she wasn¡¯t as innocent as she thought she was. Chapter 4.2 The next day, Lobelia awoke at dawn to clean the outhouse and arrange Julia¡¯s belongings. Since Julia scarcely possessed material things, there were only a few items she needed to organize. After throwing away the clothes that didn¡¯t fit her, the only thing left was an old necklace. Mother always carried this with her, Lobelia thought, she said it was a gift from father. Lobelia wore the necklace around her neck and hid it under her clothes. The pendant spread coldness to her skin which reached her heart. She was glad she had this much. Lobelia stared at her pale reflection in the window and felt strange. She felt terribly unhappy; she wanted to sit and cry all night, but no tears came out from her hollow eyes. Only anger and desire for vengeance controlled Lobelia like a doll. She believed she¡¯d be able to mourn properly once she finally fulfilled the longing of her broken heart. Lobelia opened the window and inhaled the coolness of the winter breeze to calm her mind while her silver hair fluttered in the wind. Suddenly, another knock hammered on the door. Lobelia opened the door, revealing the presence of Madame Terrine, the maid of honor of the Countess of Evelentia. She glanced at Lobelia from head to toe with blatant contempt, and then opened her mouth to speak. ¡°Come to the main building Miss Aina is looking for you,¡± she said. Lobelia wanted to ask why Aina was looking for her, but Madame Terrine wouldn¡¯t entertain any question from her. As she followed her to the dressing room of the mansion, she saw Aina surrounded by a large number of handmaidens and dressed in splendor. ¡°Are you here, sister?¡± Aina looked elated. ¡°I was so upset when we parted yesterday.¡± She approached Aina and clasped her hands with hers, a bright smile forming on her lips. ¡°Something exciting happened today, so I called my sister. My sister will feel good if she dresses up and stays next to me.¡± She looked at Lobelia with wide eyes and said, ¡°Supposedly, only the handmaiden of the entourage can stand next to me, but I will give my sister a special chance. She¡¯s my precious person.¡± Lobelia looked at Aina with a look full of wonder. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± she asked. Aina, who had just put on a headdress, turned her head to Lobelia and exclaimed, ¡°Well, the Duke of Ferrado had sent someone for me!¡± ¡°The Duke of Ferrado?¡± Lobelia repeated the duke¡¯s name in surprise but hastily composed herself. Aina continued to speak, her cheeks flushed and her eyes wide. ¡°The other day I ran into the duke at the royal banquet and accidentally dropped my handkerchief. I¡¯m sure he¡¯s here to return it,¡± she said excitedly. ¡°It was an honest mistake, but Duke Ferrado must have taken it differently.¡± Dropping a handkerchief in front of a gentleman was a subtle expression of a maiden¡¯s affection. So was keeping the handkerchief and returning it with a gift. Aina often dropped her handkerchief in front of noble men, but she would never admit that it was intentional. Her innocence and bright personality was popular among the nobility, so it was easily believable. Of course, there were those who disapproved of her, but they kept their mouths shut in fear of Evelentia¡¯s power. Aina turned to the handmaidens, ¡°Can you choose the right outfit for my sister?¡± Lobelia quickly turned towards the door to get herself out of this ridiculous situation. But Madame Terrine was standing by the exit with a stern look in her eyes. Inevitably, Lobelia became the doll in Aina¡¯s play, and she was not pleased. The maids were busy dressing up Lobelia in the appearance of a handmaid. As they finished, they went down to the hall and waited for the duke¡¯s messenger to arrive. Soon after, a knight sporting pale blond hair and blue eyes arrived at the mansion. His name was Sir Joheim Jereminus, famous as Jade Ferrado¡¯s lieutenant. ¡°Welcome!¡± Aina stepped forward and greeted Joheim. ¡°You¡¯re here to return the handkerchief, right?¡± Joheim tilted his head in confusion. ¡°Pardon?¡± he asked. ¡°Oh my!¡± Aina exclaimed. ¡°You brought a present, too! It was really a mistake. You didn¡¯t have to visit me like this¡­ But since you¡¯re here, I should be polite and accept it. Hurry up and give it to me.¡± Aina smiled widely, but as the lieutenant opened his mouth to speak, the joy vanished on her face. ¡°I have come to see Miss Lobelia of Evelentia,¡± announced Joheim. At that, Aina¡¯s face hardened. Chapter 5.1 The eyes of everybody in the hall fell on Lobelia in an instant. Joheim also looked at Lobelia. When he saw her, he looked a little surprised. What¡¯s surprising? Lobelia thought as she narrowed her eyes at his expression. Joheim cleared his throat; he approached Lobelia and bowed his head. ¡°My name is Joheim Jeremius,¡± he introduced himself, ¡°It¡¯s an honor to see you, Miss Lobelia.¡± It was bizarre. Lobelia thought she had never received such a polite greeting in her life. Lobelia masked her nervousness with nonchalance as if she had been treated like this all her life. It was one of her special strengths: the ability to remain calm and impassive in the face of unexpected circumstances ¡°Sir Jeremius, say it again,¡± Josephine demanded angrily as she interrupted the greetings between him and Lobelia. ¡°Why did you come here? This doesn¡¯t make sense!¡± Joheim turned to Josephine in a stiff and polite manner like that of a knight. ¡°I have come to see Miss Lobelia at the behest of my lord, Duke Ferrado,¡± he said, matter-of-factly. ¡°No,¡± Josephine shook her head, ¡°I mean, why? Why is the Duke of Ferrado looking for her instead of my daughter?¡± ¡°The duke wants to repay Miss Lobelia for her generosity the other day,¡± Joheim replied straightforwardly as if he no longer wanted to prolong the misunderstanding. Josephine, on the other hand, was adamant to know what Lobelia could have possibly done to gain the duke¡¯s favor. ¡°Where?¡± She asked persistently, but received no response from Joheim, who kept his mouth shut, so Josephine turned to Lobelia and bombarded her with questions in his stead. ¡°Where were you?¡± she asked, almost accusatory, ¡°Where have you been going around to meet the Duke of Ferrado?¡± ¡°We met in front of the temple,¡± Lobelia calmly replied. She glanced at Joheim, hoping that her message would be well delivered. Joheim bobbed his head slightly and concocted a story to support her words. ¡°Yes, Miss Lobelia is right,¡± he said, ¡°The Duke had stopped by the store across the temple for candles, and Miss Lobelia assisted.¡± Lobelia exhaled quietly, relieved. ¡°The temple,¡± Josephine muttered. She looked at Lobelia with piercing eyes, but pried no longer despite her will. The temple was one of the few outside facilities that Lobelia could enter. ¡°This is in return for your kindness.¡± Joheim beckoned to the apprentice standing behind her, who then brought out a box with a gold emblem. Lobelia stepped forward and opened the box. Inside was a glass bottle similar in shape to the one she had handed to the duke, but more luxurious and filled with jasmine perfume instead, a scent popular among the ladies these days. The duke had put her potion to the test, and this gift meant that he intended to accept Lobelia¡¯s offer. ¡°The Duke has sent an invitation along with this gift,¡± Joheim said, ¡°If Miss Lobelia does not mind, the Duke would like you to join him for a luncheon to formally thank you for your help.¡± ¡°I¡¯d be honored to,¡± Lobelia said. As she turned to Marlon for his permission, Aina, who had been watching in disbelief from the side, suddenly stepped forward and snatched the perfume bottle. ¡°Lady Aina!¡± Joheim was startled and tried to stop Aina. However, as a knight, he couldn¡¯t touch a lady casually. Aina slowly observed the bottle with her wide eyes and then screamed at Lobelia. ¡°Why is Duke Ferrado looking for you? Why is he being so generous to you over a candle?¡± Her eyes shook. ¡°Why would he send you a gift and invite you to eat with him?¡± For once, Lobelia couldn¡¯t keep her composure. It was the first time she¡¯d seen Aina be so unruly. She continued to demand an answer for this reality that seemed unbelievably absurd, and Lobelia felt panicked. What is wrong with her? she wondered. Aina was a well-behaved child; she conducted herself in a manner befitting a lady, but this girl before her was nothing like that. Lobelia recalled what she had read in the Original. In the story, Aina preserved her kind temperament to the very end. When her father¡¯s sins were revealed, she forgave Lobelia with tears in her eyes. Was Aina envious of the duke¡¯s favor? It seemed that jealousy had elicited a negative reaction from her. Chapter 5.2 ¡°Aina!¡± Marlon intervened to stop his daughter¡¯s tantrum, ¡°Stop it now.¡± He loved his daughter and would do anything for her, but he was not one to side with her if it meant his humiliation. ¡°Father,¡± Aina cried, and then helplessly returned the perfume bottle in the box. Joheim ordered the apprentice to secure the gift and spoke up, a hint of displeasure evident in his voice. ¡°Since the Duke has sent an invitation, I would like to invite Miss Lobelia to the residence of Duke Ferrado this afternoon,¡± he said, with emphasis on the duke¡¯s invitation. Lobelia stood still and waited for Marlon¡¯s answer. The invitation came to Lobelia, but she could not leave the mansion without Marlon¡¯s permission as she was his ward. Marlon fidgeted on his mustache as he contemplated. He didn¡¯t like Lobelia going outside. He wanted to decline the invitation, but how could he when it was sent from the duke, who had also sent a gift? Eventually, Marlon agreed, albeit hesitantly. ¡°Then let¡¯s go, Miss Lobelia.¡± Joheim subtly urged Lobelia as if he wanted to get out of this strange mansion as soon as possible. Lobelia wanted to go to Ferrado¡¯s mansion as well, so her cooperation was immediate. She lowered her head and thanked Marlon, ¡°Thank you for allowing me to go to the Duke of Ferrado.¡± ¡°This is ridiculous! My sister was invited by Duke Ferrado before me,¡± Aina wailed, now in her mother¡¯s arms. Tears soaked Josephine¡¯s sleeve. Marlon glanced at his daughter before facing Lobelia. ¡°Come back before dinner,¡± he said sternly. Lobelia nodded without protest. Outside the mansion, a huge carriage bearing the seal of the Duke of Ferrado was waiting for Lobelia. ¡°I¡¯ll help you get into the wagon,¡± Joheim said. He bent one knee on the floor and outstretched his hand to Lobelia. Lobelia was confused by the gesture, but soon realized that he intended to assist her to the carriage. Lobelia hesitated for a moment, but her body eventually moved accordingly. She took Joheim¡¯s hand as she stepped on his knee and climbed on the carriage. While Lobelia straightened her crumpled skirt, she noticed Joheim was staring at her with a strange look. ¡°Do you need anything?¡± she asked. Joheim shook his head in surprise. ¡°Miss Lobelia is too light,¡± he said without thinking and hastily bowed his head, ¡°Please forgive my rudeness.¡± ¡°It¡¯s okay,¡± Lobelia replied casually. She was aware that she was painfully thin. After Julia¡¯s death, she had suffered extreme stress and lost a lot of weight. She had been worried that her body might weaken further, but as long as she had energy to accomplish her revenge, she would be alright. Joheim cast one last glance at Lobelia, and the carriage began to move and headed to the duke¡¯s residence. * * * Lobelia disembarked from the carriage with Joheim¡¯s assistance and absorbed the magnificent view of the duke¡¯s not so humble abode. During her first visit, she had been too anxious to notice the beautiful landscape, the intricate statues, and the lavish decorations in the mansion. ¡°This way, please,¡± said Joheim. At his guidance, they passed through the duke¡¯s hall and arrived at the dining room, which had a splendid arched ceiling and a crystal chandelier hanging from it. Seated across the long table was none other than Jade Ferrado, handsome as ever. He was dressed in a neatly ironed black suit which complemented his red eyes. ¡°Miss Lobelia.¡± Jade called out Lobelia¡¯s name. The sound of her name was unfamiliar as it rolled out of his tongue. ¡°Come and sit down. Joheim, you go out.¡± Joheim bowed his head and exited the dining hall, leaving Jade and Lobelia alone. ¡°I deliberately didn¡¯t call the maids,¡± Jade said, ¡°You¡¯d be comfortable with this, wouldn¡¯t you?¡± Lobelia nodded and approached the table. This is not simply a luncheon, she thought, this is a feast. When she hesitated, Jade stood from his seat and pulled out a chair. ¡°Here,¡± he said. Lobelia took a seat, feeling the same awkwardness she felt when Joheim got onto his knees to help her into the carriage. Jade sat across Lobelia. He had invited her for a luncheon, but neither of them touched the food. After a few minutes of stifling silence, Lobelia spoke first. ¡°How was the effect of the sleeping potion?¡± Chapter 6.1 Jade¡¯s red eyes glinted. He fixed his gaze glaringly on Lobelia, and took an empty glass bottle out of his pocket. It was the bottle that Lobelia had given to him. ¡°I didn¡¯t have a nightmare for the first time since I was cursed,¡± he said as he placed the bottle on the table, his long and slender fingers tracing the bottle¡¯s mouth, ¡°but this is only an alternative, right?¡± ¡°Yes, for a permanent cure, I have to enter the Duke¡¯s dream,¡± Lobelia replied. ¡°So,¡± Jade laughed, but then his tone became hostile, ¡°Is gypsy¡¯s magic really the only solution?¡± ¡°Since you are under the curse of the gypsies, you must break the curse with the same magic as theirs,¡± Lobelia explained without blinking an eye. ¡°You can experiment with this, if you like.¡± It was not difficult for Lobelia to convince the duke, for she knew all the secrets of the world. Jade shook her head. ¡°No, this potion alone has proved enough. No one has ever improved my curse this much.¡± He removed his hand from the bottle and said, ¡°I accept the deal.¡± Lobelia fisted her hands under the table. Finally, the first seed had been sown. She began to elaborate the details of the deal. ¡°Then, from now on¡ª¡± ¡°But that deal,¡± Jade suddenly interjected. Lobelia looked at him, anxious that something was wrong. Jade folded his arms and shrugged, ¡°I don¡¯t think it¡¯s going to work out.¡± ¡°Pardon?¡± Lobelia enquired with her brows knitted together. ¡°You said you wanted to run a business to take Evelentia¡¯s fortune,¡± Jade said, ¡°which wouldn¡¯t be so easy. Even if you manage to conceal your identity at the beginning, when your business grows to a certain extent, your identity will be revealed to the surface. And at that moment,¡± he stared at Lobelia intently, ¡°you will be the target of many nobles, including Evelentia.¡± Lobelia hardened her expression. ¡°It¡¯s a matter of resolution,¡± she replied coldly. It was absurd. She couldn¡¯t have planned her revenge without that much determination. Jade looked at her in surprise. He had guessed his comment would trigger a negative response from her, but he didn¡¯t expect she¡¯d react so strongly. She was surprisingly fierce and forward despite having suffered abuse from the count¡¯s family all her life. As if she knew something nobody else did. Jade thought he ought to observe this intriguing girl more. ¡°I hope you don¡¯t think I intend to interfere with your goal.¡± he said, ¡°I¡¯m saying this because my life will be at stake, and I will be in trouble if you find yourself in danger.¡± Lobelia¡¯s expression relaxed a little. ¡°The sponsorship system alone cannot completely protect you,¡± Jade continued, his tone becoming serious, ¡°I thought about a fake marriage, but you¡¯re still a commoner.¡± Lobelia stifled a laugh and said, ¡°So the next best thing is the sponsorship system of the Duke of Ferrado.¡± ¡°No, that¡¯s not the next best thing,¡± Jade shook his head, ¡°I know a better way.¡± Lobelia tilted her head at his words. She recalled what she had read in the Original, but she couldn¡¯t think of a better way to proceed with the deal than the sponsorship system, so what was the duke talking about? Jade chuckled, seemingly aware of her confusion. He lowered his arms from the table and leaned comfortably against the back of his chair. ¡°I¡¯ve been thinking about a contractual relationship, how¡¯s that?¡± he asked. Lobelia was stunned, unable to process what she had just heard. A contractual relationship with the Duke of Ferrado? There was silence for quite some time. ¡°I fell in love with you as you picked candles to dedicate to the temple,¡± Jade continued. Lobelia withheld her incredulity. ¡°Blinded by love, I bring you the Evelentia wealth,¡± he said. A contractual relationship was undoubtedly better insurance than the sponsorship system. When they get into a relationship, people will understand if the duke prioritizes his lover and does something against common sense for her. Chapter 6.2 ¡°But will people believe it?¡± Lobelia asked. ¡°Believe me,¡± he replied, ¡°considering my reputation.¡± ¡°Oh¡­¡± Lobelia recalled the Original. Jade Ferrado had one trait that was truly unnecessary: a womanizer who has different lovers every few months. In the Original, the duke¡¯s vassals urged him to marry, worried that his constant affair would jeopardize the future of Ferrado. Unless it was time to wield the sword, he was charmingly polite, flawlessly handsome, and above all, the only duke in the empire. Women ceaselessly flocked to him. However, he was destined to die from a curse that cannot be broken, so he intended to cede his seat to his nephew. In fact, in the Original, it was his brother¡¯s son, Emerson Ferrado, who became duke after Jade¡¯s death. Whenever he was in a relationship, the vassals were unable to hide their anticipation that Jade would finally get married and secure an heir. Lobelia lowered her gaze to the table where scrumptious dishes and exquisite silverware and blood-red wine were neatly laid out. A contractual relationship was an unexpected suggestion, but it wasn¡¯t bad. Besides, Lobelia had nowhere to retreat to in case time called for it. ¡°Alright,¡± she looked up, ¡°A contractual relationship, let¡¯s do it.¡± At her agreement, Jade nodded contentedly. ¡°Well thought, Miss Lobelia,¡± Jade said, his deep red eyes twinkling, ¡°I will be faithful to you until the end of our deal.¡± Faith. ¡°So I want you to be faithful to me.¡± Lobelia shook her head. ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Duke, but I don¡¯t believe in good faith,¡± she said. Human beings are inherently evil and insatiable. Driven by greed, humans forget reason and do terrible things. ¡°Then let¡¯s change the word,¡± Jade said. Lobelia calmly gazed into his eyes. ¡°Don¡¯t betray me,¡± he warned, ¡°if you betray me, it will be the end of you.¡± At the word betrayal, Lobelia laughed. ¡°I don¡¯t have the same faith as the Duke, but I have a goal that I want to achieve with as much fervor as the Duke. So, you don¡¯t have to worry about betrayal.¡± Jade stared back at her. ¡°Then the deal is sealed,¡± he said. ¡°Then I¡¯ll have to get you out of the Count Evelentia¡¯s house first.¡± At that moment, the two of them swore obedience to the unwritten contract that would completely rewrite their fate and began to devise their ploy until the food was no longer warm. Jade ultimately came up with a very simple idea, to which Lobelia agreed to. Jade rose from his seat and approached Lobelia and held out his arm. Lobelia stared at his hand with a questioning look, then let out a cry of realization and placed her hand on it. With her hand on top of his, Jade escorted Lobelia back to the carriage where Joheim was waiting. ¡°See you tomorrow,¡± he bade. When they were almost at the count¡¯s residence, Joheim opened his mouth to speak. ¡°Miss Lobelia,¡± he said. ¡°What is the matter, Sir Jereminus?¡± asked Lobelia. Joheim hesitated for a moment. ¡°I¡¯ll be with you until tomorrow,¡± he finally said. ¡°What?¡± Lobelia tilted her head. Why would he be staying with her until tomorrow? ¡°Sir Jereminus must return to the Duke of Ferrado,¡± she said, matter-of-factly. ¡°The coachman will deliver my message,¡± he replied. ¡°But why would Sir Jereminus stay with me?¡± Lobelia questioned. ¡°That is¡­¡± Joheim bowed his head. His inability to answer her questions was different from his master, Jade Ferrado. ¡°If you return to the Count of Evelentia like this¡­ I¡¯m sure you¡¯re going to suffer.¡± Lobelia¡¯s eyes widened. ¡°What does that mean?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry madame, but rumors about Count Evelentia are already widespread in social circles. So, how can I, a knight, ignore Miss Lobelia?¡± Joheim said. He was aware that Marlon, Josephine, and Aina were tormenting Lobelia terribly, so he meant to protect her. ¡°It¡¯s none of your business, Sir Jereminus,¡± Lobelia interjected, refusing his offer. There was a hint of wariness in her voice. She knew that knights pursued the unusual value of ¡°chivalry¡± to worship the Lady, but she thought this was too much. ¡°I¡¯m not a lady,¡± she said. She was not to be guarded by knights. ¡°But¡­¡± Joheim¡¯s voice trailed off. Chapter 7.1 ¡°But?¡± Lobelia tilted her head, urging Joheim to continue. Joheim lowered his head again. He hesitated for a long time before barely uttering the next words. ¡°Chivalry is not limited to the Lady, Miss Lobelia,¡± he said, ¡°a knight has a duty to protect those weaker than himself.¡± Clich¨¦, Lobelia thought. ¡°I¡¯ve seen Miss Lobelia in the swordsmanship contest. When Miss Lobelia collapsed, I guessed that the rumors were true,¡± Joheim said in all seriousness. It seemed his concern toward her was sincere. Lobelia carefully observed Joheim. The rumors had undoubtedly pervaded the social circles. The count¡¯s family¡¯s harassment towards Lobelia was not such a secret, but the people did not know the extent of their abuse; they simply assumed they were only verbal. Perhaps Joheim thought otherwise, discovering how Lobelia was abnormally light. He thought his presence by her side would cease their bullying. But as Lobelia said, she didn¡¯t believe in good faith. She would never accept one¡¯s generosity because no person would be ever so gracious out of mere sympathy. ¡°It¡¯s really okay, Sir Jereminus,¡± she said, refusing Joheim¡¯s kindness once more. ¡°Is it?¡± Joheim muttered to himself, unable to hide his disappointment. He blamed himself for not earning her trust. ¡°Then, I¡¯ll go in now,¡± Lobelia said, ¡°Tell Duke Ferrado that I¡¯ll be waiting.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Joheim replied, helplessly. As Lobelia was about to alight from the carriage on her own, Joheim, who had been in a daze, immediately got up. He stepped out of the wagon first and took Lobelia by the hand. Lobelia looked strangely at the knight who was doing her a favor even after he was coldly rejected. ¡°Thank you,¡± she muttered politely. Joheim stood still and watched Lobelia until her back disappeared through the front door of the Evelentia mansion. * * * ¡°I told you not to be late!¡± As soon as Lobelia entered, Josephine¡¯s voice erupted in the hall. Lobelia quickly checked the time. It was still afternoon tea time, and Marlon had told her to return before dinnertime, so she was far from late. ¡°What time is it now?¡± Josephine roared as she descended the stairs and angrily approached Lobelia. She had done nothing wrong, but Lobelia wisely kept her mouth shut. Behind Josephine trailed Aina with her reddened eyes fiercely glued on her; she seemed to have been crying since she had left the mansion. Her unrelenting gaze never left Lobelia for a second as if she believed she would see through her secrets if she glared at her long enough. ¡°You¡­¡± Josephine studied Lobelia from head to toe with scornful eyes. Aina squeezed the hem of her mother¡¯s skirt as though signaling something. Josephine spoke again. ¡°Tell the truth about what happened with the Duke of Ferrado,¡± she said, ¡°everything.¡± ¡°I had lunch with Duke Ferrado,¡± Lobelia replied in a deadpan tone. Josephine narrowed her eyes. ¡°And?¡± she questioned. Aina, who was hiding behind Josephine, suddenly stepped forward and burst out, unable to contain her curiosity. ¡°And? And? And what did you do?¡± ¡°I thanked the Duke for his kindness. I didn¡¯t say anything more,¡± Lobelia answered. ¡°I know that¡¯s not all! Tell me!¡± Aina demanded. Lobelia stared at Aina. She¡¯s surprisingly sharp, she thought. At Aina¡¯s behavior earlier, Lobelia suspected that Aina might be a very different person from what she knew. ¡°Nothing else happened, young lady,¡± she said. ¡°It can¡¯t be!¡± Aina screamed. Madame Terrine, who was standing upstairs, leaned out and cautiously called out to Josephine. ¡°The Count is looking for Lobelia,¡± she announced. Josephine sighed heavily. She tapped Aina on the shoulder and said to Lobelia, ¡°Go up to the study.¡± Lobelia had wondered why Aina and Josephine were out in the hall. Apparently, they wanted to interrogate her before Marlon summoned her. ¡°Then I¡¯ll go.¡± Lobelia bowed her head to Josephine and Aina and followed Madame Terrine upstairs. As she entered the study, she saw Marlon looking out the window with his hands resting behind his back. ¡°Madame Terrine, you get out.¡± Madame Terrine left without delay and closed the door. Aina was tense, unlike when she dealt with Josephine and Aina. Marlon wasn¡¯t simply her sworn enemy, he was a sinister man. He tried to control Lobelia by limiting her radius of action and regulating the amount of information going to her. Her visit to the duke should have never happened Chapter 7.2 ¡°Lobelia.¡± Marlon sat down in his chair and clasped his hands together. Lobelia swallowed and approached Marlon. ¡°Speak,¡± he ordered. ¡°What does Jade Ferrado want from you?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± Lobelia replied. She did not intend to reveal any information, as she did with Josephine. Marlon looked at Lobelia with his sunken eyes. ¡°Perhaps,¡± he spoke again, his voice very low. ¡°Did your mother tell you anything before she died? For example¡­¡± he trailed off, ¡°stories about me.¡± Lobelia knew he was asking her if she knew of his betrayal and it made her blood boil. How audacious this rotten man was! He was scared Julia might have told her daughter the truth. But once again, Lobelia¡¯s unusual advantage saved her. She looked at Marlon calmly, burying her anger underneath a facade. She felt Marlon¡¯s probing gaze; if she showed even the slightest of emotion now, he would notice everything. Lobelia repeated the same words one more time. ¡°I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re talking about,¡± she said. ¡°You don¡¯t know?¡± Marlon raised his eyebrows. ¡°Are you sure you don¡¯t know anything?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lobelia replied passively. Marlon sighed and tapped his fingers on the table. There was a strange nuance in his sigh that Lobelia couldn¡¯t interpret. Marlon remained silent for a moment, and no longer questioned Lobelia. Lobelia remained vigilant. ¡°You hate me, right?¡± Marlon suddenly said. Lobelia hurriedly lowered her eyes. She had no choice but to admit it; it¡¯d be futile to deny what was obvious. She had wanted to stab him to death many times. If she had remained an ordinary girl, and without the knowledge of the Original, she would have succumbed to the devil¡¯s whispers. But Lobelia wasn¡¯t an ordinary girl. She was a child who fought against her tears and recited verses from an old book next to her mother while she was being smothered in water. She was also the one who, upon learning the truth of the world, hardened her heart and vowed revenge. Lobelia lifted her head and looked at Marlon innocently, mimicking Aina. She donned the face of a gullible girl who knew nothing about the world and believed that goodwill existed in the world. ¡°Why do you ask that?¡± she asked meekly. Marlon stared at her, taken aback at her expression. Lobelia bit the inside of her lip as if Marlon¡¯s gaze was piercing her. ¡°Isn¡¯t Josephine and Aina too much for you?¡± he asked, ¡°I have eyes and ears, I know that much.¡± ¡°It¡¯s natural that the countess and the lady hate me. I¡¯m an illegitimate child born of my mother¡¯s infidelity.¡± Lobelia laughed as she spoke the words that had plagued her all her life¡ªnot to reveal her misery, but so as not to be caught holding a dagger. ¡°I defiled the name of Evelentia. On that subject, I am living under your grace,¡± she said, smiling even deeper as if to show her gratitude towards Marlon. Lobelia felt nauseous for having to pretend, but she had to make it to the end. It was her only way out of this cursed mansion. ¡°Their hatred towards me is reasonable,¡± she finished. Marlon looked at Lobelia, the corner of his lips curving into a satisfied smile. ¡°Yes,¡± he said, ¡°you have lightened the burden of my heart by thinking so.¡± Lobelia had to do everything in her power to keep the smile on her face. ¡°Go ahead. If Josephine and Aina bully you, tell me right away.¡± Lobelia bowed her head in greeting and exited the study very slowly. Until the door closed behind her, she didn¡¯t shed a single emotion. After returning to the outhouse, Lobelia made sure no one was around, and then collapsed on the bed. She moved her hand to fiddle with her mother¡¯s necklace that she had hidden under her clothes. The sharp edge of the pendant dug into the flesh of her palm, awakening her mind. I can leave this house tomorrow. Lobelia endured the night with that one hope. Chapter 8.1 The next day, Lobelia was jolted awake at dawn by a series of knocks on the door. Lobelia got out of the bed and put on her shawl before opening the door. At that same time the knob turned, the door was pushed from the outside and Lobelia was carried by the abrupt force. ¡°Sister!¡± With an unnatural smile on her face, Aina scrutinized Lobelia with sharp eyes if she had changed overnight. Aina breathed a sigh of relief; Lobelia looked haggard as usual. Lobelia watched Aina quietly, who summoned the handmaiden who had followed her. ¡°I brought some hot tea for my sister,¡± she said. The handmaiden held forward a tray with a silver kettle and a teacup on it, along with some refreshments. Lobelia smelled herbal tea from the kettle. ¡°Sister has been very depressed since Julia died,¡± Aina said, ¡°Sister can¡¯t seem to sleep well at night, so I brought her a tea which is ideal for a good night¡¯s sleep.¡± Lobelia was puzzled by Aina¡¯s gesture. There was something strange about her. ¡°I¡¯m coming in,¡± Aina said, entering the outhouse without waiting for Lobelia¡¯s permission. Lobelia, knowing that saying no would only provoke Aina even more, didn¡¯t say anything for now. Aina ordered the maid to return to the mansion after serving the tea and snacks, but the maid hesitated. ¡°But miss¡­¡± she trailed off. ¡°It¡¯s alright,¡± Aina said, ¡°And don¡¯t let anyone come to the outhouse today.¡± The maid bowed her head, acknowledging Aina¡¯s implication, and left without a word. When the two of them were alone, Aina smiled and approached Lobelia. ¡°Stay with me all day today, sister,¡± she said as she poured tea into the teacup and forcibly handed it to Lobelia. ¡°You¡¯re not going anywhere today, are you? You¡¯re gonna stay in this house with me, right sister?¡± At her unnatural request, Lobelia put the teacup back on the table. I guess she didn¡¯t like what happened yesterday, she thought. Aina¡¯s true colors had begun to show. She was deliberately trying to drag out the time by lingering around Lobelia, lest she be invited to the Duke of Ferrado¡¯s residence again. The reason why she had ordered the handmaiden to prohibit anyone from coming to the outhouse was probably to prevent the duke from contacting Lobelia. Lobelia could not understand Aina. Why would she hate it so much that she was invited by the duke when she had already so much greater things than that? The duke was, of course, highly esteemed. Jade Ferrado¡¯s debut in the society had been the object of admiration for all the young nobles. But this was excessive. How would she react if she became aware of the relationship, although contractual, between Lobelia and Jade? ¡°Miss, I don¡¯t think that will be possible,¡± Lobelia said in a calm but firm voice. Aina, who was clutching the teacup, flinched. ¡°Does my sister hate being with me?¡± she asked anxiously. ¡°No,¡± Lobelia answered, ¡°I have work to do today.¡± When Lobelia stood up, Aina hurriedly put down her teacup and followed after Lobelia. ¡°Sister!¡± Aina cried out loud. She used to speak with so much grace. ¡°If you go out now, if you go out now¨C¡± ¡°What if I leave now?¡± Lobelia interjected as calmly as she could. Suddenly, a polite knock erupted on the door. Lobelia and Aina turned their heads at the same time. Since Lobelia was closer to the door, she managed to open the door before Aina could stop her. At the door stood a familiar man with blonde hair. It was Joheim. A look of relief flashed across his face. ¡°You are safe¡­¡± Joheim caught himself and hastily corrected himself, ¡°No, the Duke is looking for Miss Lobelia. Come with me.¡± Behind her, Lobelia heard Aina breathing heavily. She had ordered the handmaiden to stop unwanted guests from coming, but the maid seemed to have failed to comply, and she was angry. Lobelia ignored Aina and left the outhouse with Joheim. On the way to the mansion, Joheim repeatedly glanced back at Lobelia. Lobelia pretended not to notice. She knew Joheim was strangely attentive toward her, but it didn¡¯t matter. Lobelia was busy reviewing in her head the plans she had made with Jade Ferrado. Chapter 8.2 When they arrived at the doorstep of the mansion, Joheim opened his mouth to speak, but Lobelia cut him off. ¡°What¡¯s the matter, Sir Jereminus?¡± she asked. Joheim¡¯s eyes faltered at her question. He lowered his eyes to hide his agitation and obscured his emotions from his voice as much as he could. ¡°I heard from the Duke roughly,¡± he said, ¡°I will do my best to help Miss Lobelia, so you don¡¯t have to be afraid of whatever happens today.¡± Lobelia stared at Joheim with her green eyes. He fidgeted under her gaze as if he was regretting the words that left his lips. ¡°How far have you heard?¡± Lobelia asked. Her voice came harsher than expected, but she needed to figure out how much Joheim knew. That way, she¡¯d be able to behave accordingly in front of him. Did Jade tell him everything? Lobelia wondered. From our contractual relationship to my revenge? He was one of Jade¡¯s closest associates, so it wouldn¡¯t be a surprise he knew about the situation, but Lobelia decided to remain cautious. ¡°Sorry?¡± Joheim asked in bewilderment. ¡°I asked how much do you know,¡± answered Lobelia. Joheim¡¯s face flushed at her question. As Lobelia tilted her head in wonder, Joheim spoke with difficulty. ¡°I¡¯ve heard that the two of you have taken a liking to one another and are trying to build a good relationship,¡± he muttered quickly. ¡°What?¡± It was Lobelia who was surprised this time. Meanwhile, Joheim¡¯s face was now as red as an apple. Jade Ferrado, you¡¯re even fooling your confidante? Joheim quickly opened the door and ushered her inside, ¡°Let¡¯s go in.¡± Lobelia wanted to pry more information from Joheim, but as soon as the door opened and revealed her presence, every single person in the hall turned to look at her, including Madame Terrine and Josephine¡¯s handmaidens, who had been waiting for her. ¡°Come,¡± Madame Terrine said. They led her to the drawing room across the hall, occasionally glancing at her. As they arrived at the drawing room, Lobelia froze. Two familiar faces came into view; Jade Ferrado and Marlon were faced against each other, looking at her. Ferrado was seated comfortably with one leg crossed with the other. His movements were graceful as always, his clothes were spotless with dust, and his hair was neatly pulled back. However, amid his princely appearance was a formidable aura projecting from his red eyes. Lobelia stiffened at Jade¡¯s gaze. The reflection in his eyes was laughable. She had rushed to leave Aina behind in the outhouse, so she was unable to change from her usual attire: a worn out skirt and dark colored top. Her shabby clothes next to Jade¡¯s premium suit made her look like a beggar. As he glanced at her attire, looking surprised, Lobelia returned his gaze. Yesterday, she had visited the duke¡¯s residence dressed in the maid¡¯s clothes Aina had given her, and during their first encounter, she had worn a prayer dress to disguise herself as having gone to the temple. Still, it was unreasonable for Jade to be taken aback at her ragged appearance. After glimpsing at Lobelia, Jade looked at Marlon again and said, ¡°Now we can talk in earnest.¡± Marlon, on the other hand, still hadn¡¯t taken his eyes off Lobelia. Lobelia stood still under his sinister glare, expressionless. He beckoned Lobelia to come closer until she stood between Marlon and Jade. ¡°What are you calling this child for?¡± Marlon asked Jade warily. ¡°The luncheon you served yesterday was enough in return.¡± ¡°I want to take Miss Lobelia to my residence,¡± Jade answered, nonchalantly. At Jade¡¯s response, Marlon frowned deeply. ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear what I said?¡± he grumbled, ¡°You have already repaid her kind¡ª¡± ¡°I want to do more for her,¡± Jade interrupted. Marlon narrowed his eyes and asked in a low voice. ¡°Why?¡± Jade looked at Marlon with a relaxed expression. He uncrossed his legs and reached out to Lobelia. Recognizing the signal, Lobelia accepted his hand. The dirty sleeves of her clothes grazed his suit, but he didn¡¯t seem to care much. ¡°Because,¡± Jade paused, a smile playing on his lips, ¡°She and I have been dating since yesterday.¡± He intertwined his fingers with Lobelia without hesitation and kissed the back of her hand.