Casian sends a special gift to Annette every year on her birthday. In the first year, he sent a pen with which to write letters. From the second year onward, he sent desserts. He described different desserts in each letter, discussing which ones were delicious. Last year, he even sent a taste evaluation of blueberry macarons in the form of a paper. Consequently, blueberry jam arrived as a birthday gift, and it was homemade jam! After trying it once, various thoughts came to Annette’s mind. It was so delicious that Casian even wondered if he could be a patissier. Therefore, Annette had been to numerous dessert shops in the capital, but none could match this taste. So, she continuously asked for the method of making jam in her letters, but he still hadn’t revealed it. But could he forget that? Even if he was busy, could he forget a handmade gift that he made for her, saying he likes it? Trying to understand it was too much.

“Did you really forget?”

My head began to ache. Seeing Michael, who couldn’t open his mouth hastily, made my throat tighten. Was I the only one who had considered him as the person closest to my heart during that time?

“No, it’s not like that… I also naturally remember. Didn’t I make and send blueberry jam from the mansion, and then continue sending letters saying I spread it on bread and dipped cookies in it?”

“You remember everything, so why did you say you couldn’t remember it again?”

Although I said that, it felt narrow-minded.

“We’ll talk about it later.”

In the presence of Hertian, I couldn’t fight.

“Your Highness… understood.”

Michael hesitated and slightly lowered his head.

The title calling me felt more natural now than when he called me Annette.

“I’ll wash my hands for a moment.”

I stood up from my seat.

Washing hands was just an excuse; I needed time to organize my thoughts.

Otherwise, it felt like it would be uncomfortable to stay like this.

After leaving the dining room,

I fell into deep thoughts.

“Is there anything else you need?”

The steward, seeing my troubled face, came and asked.

“No, I’m going to wash my hands for a moment.”

“Yes. Then, please come this way. I will prepare the water for you.”

Following his guidance into the room, I waited for him.

Soon, a maid came in and handed me a bowl of water.

“Wash slowly and leave. Don’t come in until I call for you.”

“Yes.”

The maid left, and I immersed my hands deep into the water.

It felt refreshing as the cool water touched me, and my slightly throbbing head began to calm down.

Only then did I realize that my emotions had overwhelmed Michael.

“What am I doing?”

Inviting Michael and then interrogating him. I stuck to him because I was upset that he wouldn’t remember me. Even though Michael must be busy with his own work. On the other hand, compared to Hertian, who had stayed up all night with me and adjusted to my schedule despite being busy with his own work.

‘If Casian were Hertian, it would have been better.’

I had even pathetic thoughts.

Desiring Casian while hoping for someone else.

My greed had gone too far.

“Go and have fun.”

I withdrew my hands from the water. Wiping my hands on a clean towel, I looked at the mirror placed on one side of the room.

It was a foolish expression. The smeared makeup was also like that.

“Why am I trying to talk like this now? Let’s laugh a bit.”

I intentionally smiled brightly. It looked even more foolish, perhaps?

For a moment, a silly laughter flowed out of the mirror.

My mouth gradually drooped, and my eyes turned red and swollen, as if I had cried for several days and nights.

“This isn’t my appearance.”

The woman in the mirror wasn’t me.

Although I tried to take a step back, my body stiffened and wouldn’t move.

Annette in the mirror met eyes with me. Goosebumps crept from my toes. That wasn’t me.

“Hertian.”
The corners of my mouth reflected in the mirror slowly drooped, and my eyes turned red with swelling, as if I had been crying for several days and nights.

“It’s not me.”

The woman in the mirror is not me.

I tried to take a step back, but my body stiffened and wouldn’t move.

My eyes met with Annette’s in the mirror. Goosebumps crept from my toes. That wasn’t me.

“Heh, Hertian.”

When I tried to call someone, my mouth involuntarily shut. It felt like someone else was controlling my body. And opposite to me, the swollen lips of Annette in the mirror burst open.

A voice telling someone to be careful sounded pitiful. It was a voice like mine, but the buried metallic sound was unpleasant to the ears.

‘Please move.’

My body didn’t move as if it were tied with ropes.

It was painful to look at her. I am not that kind of person. It felt like she kept reflecting on me, causing me discomfort.

There was no choice but to force my eyes closed.

But even the eyelids didn’t move as I wanted.

I completely turned the pupils upside down. Tears rolled down my trembling body.

Clang, Annette inside the mirror knocked on the door.

“Oops!”

My gaze turned.

She, shedding black tears, stared at me against the mirror.