Bonisa’s energetic voice turned me around.

“Do you have anything else to do?”

“Can I just go like this?”

To her hesitant question, I answered cheerfully.

“Yes. Go.”

“Why… why?”

She seemed to find this situation hard to believe. Just go home. Even I thought I was being too lenient.

“But I haven’t paid a single coin…”

“I told you, you paid with the tapestry you made.”

“That’s impossible. This tapestry is worth at most 20 gold, but your dress…”

Bonisa couldn’t finish her sentence. She probably thought I would cancel this if she mentioned the actual price. Her pitiful appearance reminded me of myself before the possession.

An anonymous sponsor who appeared to me one day when I was cooped up in the hospital room, wanting to support my surgery costs. I cursed at that person who showed kindness for no reason. Saying they had too much money. But after the surgery, my mind changed.

‘I desperately wanted to live.’

I thought I should endure, if only for the surgery costs. I wanted to live earnestly, even if that was just an excuse.

“If we’re talking about value, that’s true.”

“But why…”

I hoped this would be a turning point for Bonisa too. I think that was all it was.

“Think about it yourself.”

If she doesn’t understand, there’s nothing I can do.

But she probably does understand. She just paid off in one go an amount she couldn’t repay in a lifetime.

“I heard the place you’re marrying into is very cold. This will come in handy.”

I added, looking at the tapestry. Sorry to Hertian, but I’ll have to think of it as saving a person.

“Take me with you too!”

At that moment, Bonisa shouted. Her voice echoed loudly in the mansion lobby. Her eyes had changed from before.

“Take me to where you’re going, young lady!”

With eyes full of longing.

Has she now found the will to do something?

“You said you hated being a slave. What are you going on about, following me?”

“Please let me work by your side. I’ll work hard at anything. Just give me a chance.”

I smiled faintly at her, who had rushed over in one breath.

“Sigh. Do as you please.”

I’ve gained a barnacle.

[This is the timeline separator]

When I met Hertian after a long time, I apologized first.

“I’m sorry. The dress you carefully chose for me got ruined.”

I found it hard to look him in the eye out of guilt. He asked in a gentle voice.

“How did it get ruined?”

“It was so pretty that I was walking around wearing it at home, and I slipped and fell before I knew it. It’s a mess now and I can’t wear it anymore.”

I kept Bonisa’s incident a secret. I had already resolved it on my own.

“Are you hurt anywhere?”

“No.”

“Then that’s fine.”

He didn’t get angry or question me, just smiled gently.

“If you enjoyed it, that’s worth the price of my dress.”

Hertian must surely be an angel. My eyes grew moist with emotion.

“Don’t cry. I’ll have another beautiful dress made for you.”

“No, you don’t have to.”

This person is a gem. A real gem.

After that, I sat face to face with Hertian and discussed matters related to the wedding. We sorted out everything that needed to be sorted. Now only the wedding remained.

With all tasks finished, I sat at the desk and took out a sheet of pale yellow letter paper. He stood beside me, watching what I was doing.

“What are you writing now?”

“A letter to my friend. I want to tell them personally about my marriage.”

“If it makes you uncomfortable, I won’t look.”

At the mention of a letter, he politely stepped back.

“Well. My parents don’t know either, but since Hertian and I are on the same side, I’ll show you specially.”

Only the recipient’s name was written on the letter paper so far.

“Cassian? Isn’t that the person you said was precious to you?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I’m curious about the reason. Why do you cherish them so much?”

“They’re my only friend. There were many people who stayed by my side when I was struggling alone, but they’re the one who remained until the end.”

When Rian died, everyone offered sincere condolences, but no one stayed by my side until the end like Cassian. Of course, I understand. It’s difficult to empathize with and grieve for another’s pain.

“So I was always grateful and sorry. I wanted to do everything I could for them, but they said they didn’t need anything. And we couldn’t just meet casually for a cup of tea either.”

“May I read the letter?”

He seemed very interested in Cassian since before.

“It’s mostly about daily life, but go ahead and read it.”

I handed him one of the letters I had on hand. He reads the letter Cassian sent. Even though there wasn’t anything particularly concerning, I felt somewhat nervous.

“This person seems to like you a lot too.”

He said something strange. That Cassian likes me.

I laughed lightly and denied it.

“No way. We’re not like that.”

“You might think so, but this person might not.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because no man is idle enough to keep sending letters to someone he has no feelings for.”

I was at a loss for words.

Is that really how men are?

“But Cassian and I have never even met face to face.”

He laughed softly.

“The other person knew you, so they sent letters.”

I stared blankly at the letter.

The pile of letters stacked high.

‘Cassian… me…?’

I had never thought about it before.

When I saw the letter in my locker. It wasn’t a love letter like the ones other boys sent.

Besides, we never talked about anything like that while exchanging letters.

“He must be a shy man if you didn’t notice. Very cautious.”

My face flushed with embarrassment.

So I’ve been exchanging letters with someone who likes me all this time?

“If, if what Hertian says is true, wouldn’t it hurt Cassian if I send them news of my marriage?”

My words came out stuttering.

“How do you feel?”

Hertian asked me a strange question as I was confused.

“If this person proposed to you, would you abandon me?”

I couldn’t answer hastily.

If Cassian, who likes me, knew my situation and willingly offered to marry me, I would…

“I won’t abandon you.”

I would still choose Hertian.

Because he has no attachment to me.

“…I see.”

Hertian replied dryly.

Even though I had given him the answer he wanted, his expression twisted strangely.

[This is the timeline separator]

A mansion came into view, as gloomy and depressing as it was grand.

The deep purple of the outer walls and wallpaper reminded me of Violet’s hair in the darkness.

The Sharpenen Duchy.

This was the last place I visited before my marriage. I wanted to personally deliver the wedding invitation to Violet, who had helped me.

“Lady Violet. Have you been well?”

And a woman who matched the mansion quite well came running towards me. She happily grasped my hands.

“Lady Anette, have you been well?”

“I’ve been well, thanks to you. Thank you for inviting me to your mansion.”

“I’m sorry for inviting you so late.”

For Violet, who had a precarious position as an illegitimate child despite being the owner of the duke’s residence, inviting someone was a significant act.

“Come in.”

Violet’s smile was as beautiful as a flower with dewdrops at dawn.

She was pretty enough that I would have fallen for her if I were a man.

‘She’s completely opened her heart to me.’

And nothing made me happier than this fact.

“I’m sorry I couldn’t greet you earlier for lending me the carriage and helping me back then.”

I recalled the day I went to have an audience with the Emperor.

If it weren’t for her, I wouldn’t have been able to properly talk with the Emperor due to Serdis’s interference.

“I was just repaying a debt of gratitude, that’s all.”

Violet just smiled, happy and glad.

“My lady. I have some good news.”

I called her in a bright voice, trying to lift the somber mood.

“What is it?”

“Just a moment.”

I handed her the white paper envelope I had brought to give her.

The belladonna flower stamped on the pink seal was the emblem of the Leanberia County. Violet, who received the envelope from me, didn’t hastily open it but waited calmly for my explanation.

“I’m getting married, my lady.”

Her beautiful eyes widened.

“What? Lady Anette, what do you mean by suddenly getting married? I haven’t heard anything about this.”

It was understandable that she didn’t know, given how few acquaintances she had in social circles.

“It’s a wedding invitation. Please open it.”

Violet probably pretended to be cheerful on the outside, but inside she must have been very upset about the fact that Serdis liked me.

As a noble lady, she had a high chance of becoming the prince’s consort, but Serdis’s choice was also absolute as he held real power.

If he chose me, Violet, who had no standing or support, would have had no choice.

But what if I’m getting married?

That changes the story.

“A wedding invitation. I’m surprised.”

“It was a brief encounter, but I thought this person would be right for me, so we decided to have the wedding quickly.”

Violet’s gaze, wavering like a reed, moved from my face to the invitation.

“You must be curious who it is. Please open it.”

Using the letter opener brought by a maid standing at a distance, she neatly removed the seal and took out the pink invitation inside.

Softly, sunlight fell on her face as she looked at the invitation.

After reading the invitation with a calm expression, she brought the paper close to her face as if she had discovered Hertian’s name.

“Grand Duke Blanditiae?”

“Yes, that’s right.”

“I heard the Grand Duke had just returned after being on the battlefield for two years.”

She looked like she couldn’t believe it.

In fact, Hertian had been unable to set foot in the capital for two years after receiving his grand duke title, as he had been traveling around battlefields.

“It’s embarrassing to say, but it was love at first sight.”

Now the lies flowed smoothly.

“…Ah.”

Violet let out a faint sigh.

Naturally, I thought she would congratulate me since I was marrying someone other than Serdis. But contrary to my expectations, she didn’t look very happy.

“My lady?”

“Hic…”

Tears fell from her eyes like lily-of-the-valley flowers.

“I’m just so happy that…”

Gone was her initial elegance as she cried with her eyes turning red, even sniffling. I handed her a handkerchief from my pocket. After hesitating, Violet buried her face in the handkerchief and raised her head after a while.

“Please, tell me your secret too. Marrying someone you fell for at first sight. Honestly, I’m envious, my lady.”

What an adorable lady she is.