The charm of possession was said to be the distortion of the original work, but this wasn’t what I wanted.

‘Why is there suddenly talk of a maid entering the palace here?’

Wasn’t I just about to be attacked by pigeons?

The Countess and Eliya, unable to manage their expressions due to shock, grabbed me tightly by both arms and dragged me into a corner.

“Why did that wicked one call you to the castle?”

“Mother, that’s not what’s important right now. This is an opportunity. You know that royal maids are chosen from among the nobility, right? I don’t know what that fox-like girl is thinking by making sister a maid, but if we play our cards right, our family could rise again!”

“Oh my, that’s right!”

The Countess, who had been flushing red and blue just moments ago, claiming all this was Cinderella’s scheme, now looked intrigued. The Countess and Eliya exerted silent pressure with their sparkling eyes.

“Yes, even if it’s unpleasant, who knows if an opportunity for revenge might arise if you endure it for a bit?”

“That’s right, sister. It’s a chance to build connections with influential figures who frequent the royal palace and raise the reputation of the Violet family. If that happens, I might be able to marry into a good family too. You know how much that would help our family.”

Eliya shot me a look full of desire. She kept saying “our family, our family,” but her face clearly revealed her selfish desire to marry into a noble house. I was dumbfounded.

“If it were me, I’d go gladly!”

“Really?”

I turned my gaze to the servant who was watching our huddled group in the corner with a disgruntled expression.

“Do I really have to go? I mean, did the Prince’s consort specifically call for me?”

“That is the case, but if there are unavoidable circumstances, I could take Lady Eliya instead.”

“I see. You should enter the castle then.”

It would be better for meeting prominent figures too. While I brightened up at this fortunate turn, Eliya’s expression soured. She knows too. That if she enters the castle, she’ll wither and die. What a brazen and cunning girl.

I glanced sideways at Eliya’s face, her makeup smeared by tears.

I was tempted to give her a good knock on the head, but I saw Eliya secretly tugging at the Countess’s dress. She was asking her to take her side. Sure enough, the Countess took my hand and began to persuade me.

“Eliya is still young, isn’t she? I’m worried that she might cause trouble in the castle, not knowing anything.”

With the Countess backing her, Eliya’s expression grew triumphant. It’s funny how she always acts like a one-year-old child at times like this, when she usually has marriage and romance on the tip of her tongue.

“You’re the older sister. If it’s you, I can feel at ease.”

The pressure to absolutely enter the castle was transmitted through my trapped arm. Seeing that the Count was listening to all this without saying a word, just clearing his throat, it seems he shares their opinion. In any case, their actions are identical, proving they’re family.

‘If I had known it would be like this, I should have fled yesterday, damn it.’

“Sister, you’ll go to the castle, right?”

You’re not going to say you won’t go, are you? Three pairs of eyes, tinged with semi-threats, turned towards me. Inwardly sighing, I smiled brightly.

“Of course, I was just joking. Naturally, I should be the one to enter the castle, who else would go?”

Turning away from the Count, Countess, and Eliya, who were visibly relieved, I spoke to the servant.

“If you give me a few days’ grace, I’ll prepare and enter the palace.”

“Her Highness personally ordered me to bring you. We must depart tomorrow, so please finish your preparations by tonight.”

The servant cut me off firmly. Even if it’s just a title now, we’re still a Count’s family, yet such a disrespectful attitude.

Well, who would be favorable to the Violet family now? It’s obvious that if I enter the castle, I’ll be surrounded by such hostile people and be bullied,

‘Am I crazy? Walking into the tiger’s den on my own feet.’

“I understand. I’ll prepare.”

Hiding my true feelings, I answered the servant with a docile attitude.

Perhaps due to the new hope that had sprung up, my family’s faces were bright throughout dinner. They all smiled more kindly than usual, trying to take care of me.

I barely managed to shake off Eliya, who was begging me to send her the catalog from Matilda’s boutique as soon as I got to the capital, and returned to my room.

“What catalog.”

I snorted as soon as I closed the door.

“You can go to the castle instead of me and get it yourself.”

How Floria would react was no longer my concern. There was no need to worry about people who were trying to push me into the tiger’s den for their own benefit. Recalling how they had tried to send me to the castle by any means, I even felt resentful for all the meddling I had done until now.

‘I was planning to run away today anyway.’

Shrugging my shoulders, I pulled out the still-locked suitcase from under the bed and removed things that only took up space and weight.

Then I stuffed the now much lighter suitcase full of bread and jerky. Ignoring the horrified expression that seemed to ask, “What if you get fat?”, I had packed these things on the excuse of getting hungry.

It’s not much, but it should last for a while. It was also fortunate that it was summer, making it easy to move around.

“I almost became the little match girl.”

As I indulged in these idle thoughts, night had already fallen deep. The dark sky outside the window was tranquil, with only the occasional cry of a night bird breaking the silence.

‘It’s time.’

I opened my eyes wide and got up from the bed. Peeking out the window, it was quiet without a soul in sight.

“Hmm. The air is perfect for escaping.”

First, I threw the suitcase onto the bushes I had spotted earlier. The sound wasn’t as loud as I had expected, but just in case, I held my breath and waited for a moment, but there was no sign of anyone coming outside.

Relieved, I picked up the rope I had made by weaving blankets together. I was about to try the very method I had only read about in videos and comics until now.

“It won’t come undone, will it?”

I pulled the knotted part taut with both hands. It was surprisingly sturdy. After tying the blanket to the bed post, I threw the other end out the window. All that remained was to summon the courage.

“Phew. You can do it, Reneola Violet. You’ve had rope training before, remember?”

Of course, I had only done it once at a training camp when I was young, but what matters is that I have experience, right? I sat on the windowsill, encouraging myself.

“People don’t die easily. It’s only three floors. Just do it calmly.”

Taking a deep breath to calm my trembling heart, I grabbed the rope and slowly took my feet off the floor, facing the room.

At first, it went more smoothly than I thought. My arms, smooth without a single muscle from never having done hard work, supported my body heavily, but they held up, and the blanket was sturdy. The problem arose elsewhere.

“Damn. I didn’t think about the length needed to tie to the post!”

When I had dropped the rope out the window earlier to gauge its length, I hadn’t considered the length needed to tie it to the bed in the center of the room. In the end, I ended up dangling one floor above the ground, letting out a bitter laugh. To make such a stupid mistake.

I should have at least checked before hanging!

I wanted to smack my stupid head, but I couldn’t for fear of falling.

Now I had two choices. One was to climb back up to the room and add more blankets. But it was obvious that I would run out of strength halfway up. So the only option left was to give up now and let go.

“Will it hurt?”

It will hurt. It’s only one floor high, so nothing should break, but it will definitely hurt a lot. Even knowing there was no other way, I hesitated to let go out of fear, and in the meantime, my strength was steadily draining. Finally, just as my hands and arms were screaming their limits.

“When were you planning to jump down?”

Startled by the sudden strange voice breaking the silence, I lost my grip on the rope. My body was instantly pulled towards the ground. Too shocked to even scream, I just closed my eyes tightly, waiting for the impending pain. Then, feeling something soft catching me, I slowly opened my eyes. And immediately gasped.

‘What is this face?’

Although the face was very dark with shadows cast by the moonlight behind it, I could tell at a glance. That this was an incredibly handsome man! From the sharply angled jawline and straight eyebrows to the contours leading to the nose bridge, the aura of a handsome man was palpable.

I stared blankly at the purple eyes that were clearly meant to enchant people, forgetting the situation.

At that moment, the hands firmly supporting my shoulders and legs suddenly let go.

“Eek!”

Tumbling to the ground, I quickly covered my mouth to stifle the reflexive scream. Then I quickly checked the house for any movement, but fortunately, it seemed no one had woken up. Only then did I glare at the man while rubbing my sore bottom.

If you were going to catch me anyway, why suddenly throw me down?!

I wanted to snap, “Is being handsome everything?!” but the words got stuck in my throat as the moon shifted, gradually revealing more of his face.

‘Alright, let’s give him a pass. He’s that handsome.’

The man was truly the most stunning person I had ever seen in all the media I had encountered in my life. Not only was he handsome, but he had a strange aura that captivated one’s gaze, and his slightly upturned lips exuded a gentle dignity.

I almost lost myself again in his surreal appearance that seemed to make even the air around him stop. If it weren’t for the man’s next words, I surely would have.

“You’re heavier than you look.”