“Sir Frederick.”
Hermia bowed slightly in greeting. The gentleman in front of her, who was at about the same eye level as her, was the eldest son of the family that had been discussing marriage until recently.
It was also a family that his mother had vehemently rejected after the will of the former Duke of Rockford was made public.
In short, it was an uncomfortable relationship at the moment.
Frederick snatched the book away from him as if he were snatching it away, then ripped off the cover of the Bible that had been carelessly stuck together.
“The stolen Young-ae decided to get everything back?”
‘shit.’
The countess quickly held out her hand to see him.
“It’s my friend’s book. He just left it with me for a little while… … .”
“No way. No way. How can a woman who will become a duchess enjoy such a low-class cultural life?”
Frederick stepped back, his outstretched hand colorless. One corner of his mouth raised, a sarcastic expression of unpleasant emotion.
“Do you know, Sir Walter? That the lady who is to be my wife is a tomboy who enjoys reading novels like this?”
“…Please give it back.”
Hermia forced a smile at the man whose pride must have been deeply damaged.
“I am sorry for rejecting your proposal. Your Majesty has a great family background and great looks… … .”
At that moment, a gust of wind blew from somewhere and Frederick’s bangs fluttered. Hermia looked at his broad forehead that was revealed in an instant and continued speaking urgently.
“You have such a wonderful personality, I’m sure you’ll find a better wife than me.”
“You will regret it. A woman must live within her means to be happy.”
Frederick, his bangs pressed obsessively against his forehead, held out the book. It was clearly his intention to return it, but he stubbornly refused to let go.
“This… … .”
“I would like to express my deepest condolences in advance, since the marriage will last only a year. Once a woman has given up her body, there is no place left for her to go but a convent.”
Hermia bit her lip.
It was hard to believe that the man in front of me was the same person who had sent me a card with sweet words along with a bouquet of flowers.
But since the relationship ended unilaterally and without hesitation, I couldn’t say anything in return.
‘It wasn’t me who broke off the engagement, it was my mother.’
This accusation was unfair, because Hermia’s purpose was marriage itself, no matter who the other person was.
If the will had not been made public, I would have probably married this man normally. Then I wouldn’t have had to endure such humiliation.
The cause of the current situation was approaching step by step. It was her stepmother, Countess Olivia Bahnsen.
“Sir Frederick Cotton.”
“…Good evening, Mrs. Bansen.”
Hermia’s body swayed as Frederick suddenly let go of her hand.
She straightened up and hid the book behind her back. The countess smiled smoothly without even looking at her daughter.
“Our child has been rude to you. That’s when it happens. It’s the age when the mind is not clear and kindness is mistaken for concern.”
Hermia quickly lowered her eyes at the secret poking of her hand.
“It was just that Hermia was momentarily confused by the kindness shown by Kyung. Isn’t she really cute?”
“That may be true. You’re still twenty. Since ancient times, women have to get married and have children before they become adults.”
The countess’s face turned bright red at those words. Frederick was now criticizing the countess for not being able to have children.
This was because he also knew that the person who had initiated and then broken off the marriage was the countess. Nevertheless, the countess did not erase the smile on her lips.
“Thank you very much for your understanding. I will be more careful about my daughter’s behavior so that there will be no more misunderstandings.”
“… … .”
“Come on, Hermia. We can’t keep the Marchioness waiting any longer, can we?”
The countess, speaking elegantly, turned around and walked away first. Hermia looked at Frederick with anxious eyes, then followed her mother.
A man’s gaze flew into the back of my head, stinging me.
‘Why is everyone making a fuss about me?’
She thought to herself and took heavy steps toward the gathered ladies.
* * *
“Just wait and see! Will he still be so arrogant after marrying the Duke?”
The countess, who had gotten out of the carriage with the butler’s help, shouted nervously. Hermia, who had been verbally abused throughout the carriage ride back, had a very tired look on her face.
“The Cotton family is now out of social life! They’re being kicked out!”
“Welcome back, ma’am. Miss Hermia.”
The butler, who had been bowing politely, accepted the fan and shawl with a familiar expression.
“He?”
“I just got a call. He said he had a long business meeting and is staying at the hotel tonight.”
The countess, who was crossing the garden with angry steps, stopped dead in her tracks.
“What about the meeting? You must be having another big drinking party. Hermia Bahnsen!”
Hermia quickly followed suit at the sharp voice.
“Yes, Mother.”
“Hand it over.”
“What…?”
Instead of answering, Hermia finally handed over the book to her mother, who glared at her sharply. She thought she hadn’t been caught, but it turned out that her mother had been pretending not to know the whole time.
The novel, which had been rolled up and held tightly, fell into the Countess’s hands. Hermia’s heart pounded anxiously.
“… … .”
The countess checked the title and threw it at the butler without even looking at the contents.
“Burn it.”
“That’s not mine… … .”
Hermia, having said that, closed her mouth.
“Of course not. Irene Schwein, that little brat, would have given it to me.”
The countess came closer and snapped her index finger, indicating that she should bow her head to match her short stature.
Hermia bowed her head obediently, her neck curled.
“If I see you hanging out with that country bumpkin again, you know you’ll have to cut your food portions in half.”
“Yes? More than now?”
Hermia suddenly raised her head and asked back. Even now, I am eating so little that I can barely eat a penny, and now you are cutting it in half again.
If that really happened, she would surely starve to death before she could even get married.
‘I heard that the royal family will be attending the Duke of Rockford’s wedding. Are you planning on showing off your baby bump to them?’
It was something the Countess said casually when I cleaned my plate after a long time.
After that, Hermia’s plate was filled with dry steak without sauce, half-boiled fish, or even just a few grilled vegetables.
Naturally, Hermia became increasingly thinner. The chef, unable to bear it any longer, secretly supplied her with sandwiches filled with ingredients between buttered bread.
But even that didn’t last long. One of the servants told the countess, and the chef and the maid who delivered the food received a three-month pay cut.
After that, Hermia’s meals became increasingly worse.
“Your meal was just a weak liver. Don’t be ridiculous.”
Tsk, the countess clicked her tongue and climbed onto the porch and disappeared into the mansion. Soon, a shout to prepare for a foot massage was heard outside.
The book Irene had lent him was in the butler’s hands. He shook his head sadly.
“I’ll check to see if you burned the book. I’m sorry, Miss.”
“…are you okay.”
Hermia stepped inside, her shoulders hunched. The third-generation Countess of Bahnsen’s mansion was dazzlingly bright.
Cream wallpaper with gold leaf molding, red carpet leading up the stairs, and glossy wooden furniture without a speck of dust.
Even though I had been here for six years, I was always cautious, like someone setting foot in an unfamiliar place.
As she climbed the stairs, Hermia paused for a moment in front of the large and small picture frames that filled one wall.
“Butler.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
“Why did my father bring me into the Bansen family?”
In the largest frame, a family that looked harmonious to anyone was smiling gently. Hermia tried to draw Mel Greenwood’s face over her own, smiling like a doll.
Somehow it felt more natural for that child to be in the picture instead of me. She smiled brightly on behalf of the embarrassed butler who couldn’t say anything.
“I guess she had no choice but to bring me here because her mother couldn’t have children. She was an illegitimate child, and I never wondered how she lived for 14 years.”
“… … .”
I had already known the old butler’s temperament, which meant he couldn’t say no even if it was an empty promise. Hermia took a deep breath and bravely climbed the stairs.
“I’m hungry again today.”
As I was lying on the sofa muttering absentmindedly, a maid of about the same age came in hastily.
As Hermia, exhausted, barely managed to lift her feet, the maid quickly came over and took off her shoes for her.
“I saw it all, miss.”
“what?”
She responded calmly and extended her remaining foot.
“The book you’re holding, sir! Is that it? ‘The Thief Youngae’.”
Hermia sat up in one breath.
“Do you know that novel too?”
“Of course! It was already famous among the maids. Word of mouth spread, and now even the ladies of noble families are reading it.”
Andy brought out the slippers, neatly placing the shoes in a velvet box.
“The female protagonist, who I thought was a maid, turned out to be the daughter of a count! Isn’t that a wonderful story?”
“Do you think the female protagonist is Mel too?”
Hermia asked without hesitation. Andy blinked his round eyes.
“Well, anyone can tell that it’s modeled after Mel. Duke Walter and Prince Gerard also appear in it.”
“Why is Mel the main character and not me?”
I frowned in frustration, and Andy giggled.
“Then the novel isn’t fun!”
Andy, who had even put on her slippers, went behind the sofa and straightened Hermia’s upper body. She continued speaking as she took off her dress and untied the laces of her corset one by one.
“Mel is actually embarrassed, but she is pretty. Someone must have used their imagination when they saw Mel following the girl around.”
“Yes. I think you have to have a duke and a prince as childhood friends to be called the main character.”
Hermia shrugged and sneered.
“How did the Count’s daughter end up in an orphanage?”
Then Andy paused for a moment and whispered secretly.
“It was because of an evil plot and trick to swallow up the entire family.”
“oh?”
Andy moved in front of Hermia when his master showed interest.
“So the story of how Belle Vince became Belle Greywood is… … .”
Just as I was about to start talking in earnest, the doorbell suddenly rang loudly downstairs. Andy frowned.
“Who would be so rude on this night?”
“Well, maybe not my father.”
Before long, the door opened without a knock. It was the head maid, Madame Laura.
“Miss! Get dressed quickly! The Duke of Walter Rockford has come to visit!”