Why is my life never peaceful for even a moment?

I contemplated running away even now as I watched the Countess and Eliya’s backs as they strode towards Floria. But I couldn’t even try because I made eye contact with Floria.

“It’s been a while, Floria.”

Despite the reversal of status, the Countess, who had gained some confidence, immediately spoke informally to Floria. Shana and the maids standing behind Floria frowned. It was natural since anyone could see that the Countess’s behavior was arrogant.

I hurried towards them, regretting once again that I hadn’t let them rummage through the closet.

“It’s been a long time, Mother.”

“Yes. I don’t know how long it’s been since I’ve seen your face. Your father and I sent so many letters during that time, but you ignored them without sending a single reply.”

“Countess Violet, please show proper respect to Her Highness the Second Prince’s Consort.”

As Rena stepped in, unable to bear it any longer, the Countess covered her sulky lips with a fan. Floria smiled as if it was alright.

I pushed aside the Countess, who was visibly shortening her life span in real-time, and paid my respects to Floria.

“I greet Your Highness, the Second Prince’s Consort.”

“I didn’t know Mother would come. If you had given me notice beforehand, I would have gone out to welcome you…”

Floria trailed off, glancing at the Countess. It was as if I had deliberately put her in an awkward situation.

I quietly bowed my head.

“I apologize, Your Highness. I was too flustered to inform you.”

“You must have been happy to see your family after a long time. Did Father come along as well?”

“Yes. He’s currently at the First Prince’s Palace. Would you like to see him?”

“No, it’s better if I visit slowly next time.”

The Countess and Eliya looked displeased with me for being so subservient to Floria.

They seemed unable to understand why I would lower myself to her when I was about to become the First Prince’s Consort.

The poking sensation on my back grew stronger, and when I glared, I heard a barely audible sneer from the front. When I turned my head, Floria was wearing her usual face as if she had never sneered.

“Since the whole family has gathered after a long time, you must have a lot to talk about. I think it would be better if I weren’t here today.”

Floria lowered her eyes desolately. It was as if she was voluntarily leaving because the family members were uncomfortable with her.

Unlike me, who was sticking out my tongue at her pretense, the maids were very sympathetic towards her.

Among the fierce gazes glaring at us was Eilin. I was puzzled as to why she was here when I had heard that her family had fallen and she had left the palace. Floria, following my gaze, turned to her and said,

“Ah. Elder sister must have heard about the news of the Huron County. I couldn’t turn a blind eye to the difficulties of someone who had helped me for a long time, so I made a request. Although it’s an exceptional case, His Majesty gladly granted permission.”

“As expected of the merciful Consort.”

Eilin, who was already devoted to Floria, would surely become even more loyal now.

As if to prove my thoughts, her gaze towards me was fierce. Seeing her blind face that seemed willing to do anything for Floria, there was no need to think deeply about why she had brought Eilin back.

“Then I’ll be going now. Have a good time.”

Floria’s gaze shifted to the side.

“I’ll visit you soon, Mother.”

“Y-yes.”

Perhaps because she had seen me prostrate myself before Floria, the Countess wore an uncomfortable expression, but her momentum had been significantly dampened. Nevertheless, she didn’t raise her speech until the end. It seemed to be her last remaining pride.

As Floria’s back disappeared into the distance, the Countess crossed her arms and trembled.

“That gloomy one is still creepy. Do you remember? When a relative elder visited, she deliberately broke glass and injured her hand. How cunning she was at just fifteen. Is that all? There were countless times when she would suddenly collapse like a mangy puppy, causing trouble for people.”

The Countess looked as if she still got goosebumps just thinking about it.

“I’m on the verge of getting neurosis from that face pretending to be kind. Did you see earlier? Those disgustingly fluttering eyebrows. Thanks to that, I was made out to be the strange one again.”

The Countess, who seemed to have completely forgotten her own arrogant behavior, was even looking wronged as she vented her frustration.

“How irritating it was to see her looking down on us with such haughtiness just because she became a Prince’s Consort.”

The Countess, who had been snorting, soon patted my back with a pleased face.

“This mother is so proud that you’ve become a Prince’s Consort. You’re the pride of our family.”

The Countess, who was smiling so proudly that one might think she was the one becoming the Prince’s Consort, suddenly tilted her head.

“By the way, why don’t you have any maids?”

“I’m not married yet.”

Besides, with Cahirun still treating me like a maid, it would be quite strange for a maid to have maids.

“Even so. There’s so much to prepare for the wedding, shouldn’t you have someone by your side to help?”

“For such matters, Countess Rain is helping me.”

“Who’s that?”

“She’s Cahirun, His Highness the First Prince’s aunt.”

Before I could finish speaking, the Countess snorted. She spoke with a look as if she was seeing a naive child.

“Child, the most distant and difficult thing in the world is the in-laws. Could you have spoken comfortably about anything? After all, one’s own family is the best.”

…Where is this conversation heading?

Just as an ominous feeling flashed through my mind, the Countess smiled, pointing at Eliya.

“Now that your younger sister has entered the palace like this, how about keeping her by your side as a maid?”

The Countess urged me with her eyes as if telling me to do so quickly. It was clear that she was looking for an opportunity for Eliya to form connections with high nobility.

As if they had already agreed on this, Eliya eagerly linked arms with me and said sweetly.

“I can do well, elder sister. I used to braid your hair a lot in the old days, remember?”

Eliya smiled brightly. But during the short time we spent together after the possession, I knew that she was the type who wouldn’t lift a finger for troublesome tasks. She would surely be more of a burden than help. Even if that wasn’t the case, I had no intention of keeping her by my side.

“It’s not common to have family members as maids.”

“From what I heard Floria say earlier, it seems she asked the Second Prince to keep a maid she likes by her side. Couldn’t you ask your son-in-law too? If Floria can do it, why can’t you?”

The Countess showed no signs of backing down until I agreed to do so. I had no choice but to nod.

“Alright. I’ll talk to His Highness about it.”

She would try to stick around the palace one way or another anyway, so it might be safer to keep her in sight.

From the day I encountered Floria, I had felt uneasy, and sure enough, new rumors began to circulate both inside and outside the palace. The content was that the Violet family, riding on my back, was living in luxury in the palace and oppressing Floria.

To be fair, it was true.

My reputation as the nation’s most disliked person couldn’t get any worse. Instead, nobles’ pleas to Cahirun to reconsider the marriage poured in. But their earnest loyalty was thrown into the fireplace without even the seal being torn off.

Contrary to me, the sympathy for Floria grew even stronger. Rumors that she was being turned away at the gates of the First Prince’s Palace every day led to a surge of criticism against the Violet family.

The resentment and reproach reached its peak on the day of my wedding to Cahirun.

“Wow, elder sister, you’re so beautiful!”

Eliya exclaimed, looking at my reflection in the mirror.

‘Well, I have to admit, I do look pretty.’

I turned this way and that, examining my wedding dress in the mirror. The diamond particles sparkling under the lights made my white skin glow even more.

Around my slender neck, exposed by my upswept hair, hung the green sapphire necklace Cahirun had gifted me a few days ago, saying it matched the color of my eyes.

“Seeing elder sister in a wedding dress makes me want to get married too. I’ve always dreamed of marrying a prince.”

“You’ll soon meet a good person and get married too, so don’t worry. Your elder sister will take care of it for you.”

The Countess chimed in at Eliya’s envious words. It was a conversation I had heard so often over the past few days that I could recite it in my sleep.

I couldn’t take my eyes off my reflection in the mirror.

‘I’m really getting married.’

Who would have thought I’d be getting married after being possessed, something I never did in my previous life. Even though it was a contract marriage, I felt strangely excited.

“Elder sister, don’t forget that your beauty today is partly thanks to me, okay?”

Eliya’s eyes sparkled as if I owed her a debt. But I couldn’t understand what contribution she was claiming. She had been nothing but a clumsy loafer, to the point where even Cahirun had given me looks that seemed to ask if we really had to keep her around.

Just as I was nodding vaguely, not wanting to waste energy on a long explanation, the palace guard standing outside the door announced,

“His Highness Cahirun has arrived.”