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ORIGINAL AUTHOR/S: 우주의시옷

Rattle.

Because it rained, the ground was uneven, and the carriage shook. Sienna hugged the box tightly in her arms, worrying that she would drop the finely packed box. Anna, who was sitting across from her, laughed as she was cute.

“Princess, dropping the box does not break things.”

“But it’s a gift. It was wrapped up at its best, so it could be a mess.”

She couldn’t release the box from her chest, even after passing the squishy dirt road and entering the well-maintained road. Sienna placed it on her lap, as if dearly, and even put her hands on top to secure it.

Today was the birthday of Sienna’s fiancé, Jad Valencia. This was a gift she prepared herself for him.

Princess Sienna Stern of the Stern Kingdom and Jad Valencia, the successor of Marquisate Valencia, were engaged three years ago. And finally, in the coming spring, the two were planning to have a wedding. So, it’s not long until Siena’s long unrequited love will bear fruit.

However, the expression of the bride-to-be, who would be beaming in sweet dreams, was as dark as the weather outside the carriage.

Sienna turned her head and glanced out of the window. The Marquisate was dark, even though it was still daytime, thanks to the rain that started from the night. The closer she got to the Marquisate, the more times she touched her nails and the deeper her sighs become.

“Haah…”

Sienna said lonesomely, writing Jad’s name with her fingers on the wet window.

“Jad, this marriage… is it really okay?”

Unlike Sienna, who jumped with joy at the wedding that was finally decided, Jad was sorrowful throughout. It was a natural reaction, as it was a political marriage without hearts.

Nevertheless, Jad accepted her marriage because there was no reason to object.

He didn’t have any other lady in his heart, and she thought he wouldn’t be a bad marriage partner as Sienna was comfortable with whom she had known for a long time.

On the day of the engagement ceremony, Jad revealed his thoughts to Sienna. He was not caring or gentle, but she was all right with the proposal. Even though she was ridiculed for having no pride, it couldn’t be helped. In the first place, she knew that her mind and heart were different. She would be lying if she said his words hadn’t hurt her, but the fact that she was escaping the future in the Castle to be with Jad made it all bearable.

However, as time went on, she became nervous. All kinds of rumors gathered in the castle. Inside, of course, there were also words that Jad Valencia fell in love with a duke’s daughter.

‘Now, there’s really little time left…’

Sienna put her hand on her heart.

“Why am I so anxious?”

Rattle. Skid. The wheel eventually fell into a dirt road, and the carriage stopped and staggered.

“Princess, are you all right?”

Outside, the voice of the coachman shouting ‘I’m sorry!’ was heard. The carriage soon started moving again, and Sienna smiled faintly.

“Yes, it’s okay. It will be okay.”

She was eager to do so, but her feet were swaying even with heavy rain.

“Princess…”

Seeing Sienna’s pale complexion, Anna held her hand tight.

“Your hands are cold.”

It was an unusually cold day lately, perhaps because of the rain. She was worried that Sienna, with her weak body, would catch a fever.

Anna asked her about Jad with half resentment and half curiosity.

“Why do you like Jad so much?”

“It’s embarrassing to ask so suddenly.”

Even if she said that, a smile appeared on her mouth as she thought about Jad.

“Well, because he’s nice?”

“What? I don’t know about other reasons, but I can’t agree with that.”

Anna was firm.

She knew there were many of Jad’s passionate followers among the capital’s young girls, but in her eyes, he was by no means a good man.

“Of course, Jad is chilly and talks a little harshly.”

Sienna nodded at Anna’s words, though she sided with him.

“But he was the only one who saved me.”

As usual, there were times when Sienna used to be subtly harassed by Pierre.

No one came forward. It was normal.

Because the opponent was the crown prince. However, Jad grabbed her hand and dragged her away. He said it wasn’t fun there then left, and he did so while taking Sienna out of that hellish room with him.

Everything from that day was clear.

From his breath, refreshing wind, the warmth of her grasped hands, salty tears, and all sorts of criticism from Jad.

‘Do not misunderstand. I didn’t really help you.’

‘Ung.’

‘I just wanted to go outside.’

‘Ung.’

As Sienna nodded and sniffed, Jad struck his chest and became angry.

‘Ah, this is frustrating! Why are you crying!’ Sienna cried even harder when he yelled, and Jad was getting angrier when she cried.

“Jad is surprisingly consistent.”

Sienna burst into laughter.

“Well, it’s been ten years already.”

The carriage was slowing down while she was locked in memories for a while.

“It looks like we’re almost there.”

“Yes, we’re here.”

The scenery outside the window was familiar. The entrance to the mansion was visible after running straight along the tall tree-ed avenue. Soon, the carriage completely stopped.

Sienna put on her cloak, grabbed Anna’s hand, and got out of the carriage.

It was still raining softly.

She stepped on the fluffy lawn and headed for the entrance to the mansion. However, her steps were awkward and she has a tense appearance.

It’s been too long since she left the princess’s palace, so she was being a little awkward.

“I have been waiting, princess.”

Marquisate Valencia’s butler, Gideon, greeted Sienna.

It was a secret to Jad, but she had already sent a message in advance to the Marquisate. Gideon politely guided Sienna into the mansion.

“Young Master is having a meeting with his friends right now. It would be a little noisy and uncomfortable. May I take you somewhere private?”

Gideon, a seasoned butler, knew her personality well, so he suggested that in advance. Hearing so, Sienna nodded her head quietly.

“Yes. Then, I will take you to the parlor.”

She sat in the empty parlor, sipping tea from the maid and waiting for Jad.

Anna left her side and told them to have a good time together, so she was the only one in the spacious room. Thanks to this, the interior of the parlor was too quiet, and even the sound of placing down the teacup was loud enough.

She got up from the sofa because the butler’s return was later than expected. Sienna was nervous so it was difficult to stay still. She looked at the surprisingly well-decorated parlor and heard something from the room next to her.

“Who is there?”

The next room was also a parlor. And there was a door in between, so it was a structure that people could freely go in and out.

Sienna involuntarily grasped the handle, following the sound she heard.

Slightly pushing the door, the sound of the door twisting revealed the two.

It was dark because all the curtains were closed and the lights were not turned on, but it was enough to discern who and what the situation was.

Gritta Winslet, in a fancy dress, was lying on a long sofa and holding hands on top of him.

“Kyaa!”

Sienna missed the doorknob with Gritta’s short scream. The door opened wide, and the room became brighter. On the other hand, Jad, who was guessing the uninvited audience with only the silhouette, widened his eyes when the figure sparkled in a new light.

“Sienna?”

Jad’s voice shocked her, that she took a step back.

‘It must be a misunderstanding. There must have been a reason. Surely… there is.’ She was so determined, but it was futile. ‘You look like a fool.’ She should have said something, but her mouth wouldn’t open.

Jad, who had nervously ruffled his hair, asked shamelessly at the lifeless Sienna.

“What’s going on?”

“…”

“It’s rude not to knock.”

“…”

“I would like you to leave.”

When she didn’t answer, Jad asked again, pointing to Gritta lying down with his chin gesture.

“Do you intend to keep watching?”

“…”

“Well, I don’t think that’s bad either.”

As soon as Jad’s and her eyes met, the door closed with a bang and loud noise.

She walked out of the parlor with a gift she had placed on the table. Sienna ran vigorously into the hallway. Though she had no reason to run away, she wanted to hide somewhere, anywhere.

Putting on her cloak as she went down the stairs without hesitation, it caught her foot and she fell forward. She closed her eyes, fearing the impact from the hard floor, but her body, which had collapsed, stopped mid air.

“Are you okay?”

Someone was holding her shoulder firmly.

For a moment, the low voice relieved her tension, causing her legs to stagger. They weren’t even caught in the rain, but her whole body trembled, and her hands were strained. The box that fell on the floor looked a little crushed, but it didn’t matter anymore.

“Thank you.”

With a voice crawling replying to the man who helped her, Sienna barely nodded, picked up the box, and ran as if she was running away from something.

However, she stopped at the door from the sound of a man calling her.

“Hey! Wait…”

He approached Sienna with her shoes that had fallen down the stairs. She must have lost her mind to the point that she didn’t even realize that her shoe had fallen off.

“Excuse me for a moment.”

The man bent his knees and put the shoes on her feet.

Normally, it was a surprise situation, but she wasn’t feeling anything at all. She just trembled a little because the hands that touched her feet were warm.

Sienna opened the door and went outside. She exhaled her thin breath swiftly then hurried away.

An afternoon where you can barely see anything.

Still, it was raining.

***

Sienna came back to Princess Palace.

She was soaked in the rain.

Anna, who saw her in a strange condition, was restless and didn’t know what to do. She asked Sienna what the hell had happened, but she didn’t answer.

“I want to sleep.”

That was all she said.

‘I wish all this was a dream.’

She wanted to fall asleep with her own spells, but even her simple hope was shattered.

“What the hell is that?”

It was because Pierre, her brother, who was more gritty than anyone else, came.

A mess of clothes, a shabby complexion, and a grimy gift box. He laughed at Sienna, sweeping her appearance up and down.

“This is the worst. What a terrible mess.”

“…”

“You don’t have the face of a person who came after meeting her fiancée. Did you have a fight?”

“…”

“Well, you were the one who thought of wanting a happy marriage, anyway.”

“…”

“I don’t like him, but I feel sorry for Jad Valencia for the first time.”

“…”

“Hmm…”

When she didn’t say anything to him, Pierre went closer to her. He grabbed Sienna’s chin so she couldn’t avoid him and forced her to meet his eyes. With a tender touch, he swept the hair flowing down behind her ear.

“You’re always the problem.”

“…”

“If it wasn’t for you.”

Even though Sienna had already been crushed, Pierre did not show mercy. He put his hand on her shoulder and poured curse into her ear.

“It would have been better if someone like you was not born.”

Hye Soo opened her eyes with a tremendous headache.

“Princess! Are you awake? Benny! Come on, call the doctor! Oh my God, princess, do you recognize me?”

The surroundings were noisy, but Hye Soo seemed to be submerged, and everything felt so far distant. However, slowly, she realized something was off.

‘Am I dreaming…?’

Memories that were not hers, flooded into her mind, and it was overwhelming. Her thoughts and actions stopped as though something inside her was broken. Only then, Anna noticed her abnormality. She grabbed her shoulder tightly then shook her worriedly.

“…Princess?”

Hye Soo suddenly removed her blanket and hurried to the dressing vanity. Surprised, Anna ran after her with her slippers.

Standing in front of the mirror, she couldn’t find her words.

“No way… this- what is this?”

The reflection in the mirror was a small, fragile girl with bright red hair and a pale face.

“This is not me. It’s not me!” She threw the mirror as soon as she saw the reflection for a split second.

“Princess!”

Despite Anna’s desperate cries, Hye Soo fell asleep only after destroying all the mirrors in the room.

***

There were times when she naively believed that she was the main lead of this world.

The only daughter of a wealthy family who couldn’t be sad, a harmonious family, and a pretty face as she was going to study ballet soon.

It was Hye Soo who was born with all the good things in the world like the Samsin Halmoni exploded all the random jackpot.

***Samsin Halmoni\, the goddesses of childbirth and protector of children.

However, at the age of seventeen, her life was overturned.

The year she entered high school, her father’s business failure shattered her world. The two-story house, which was like a palace, became a semi-basement rent room and her family had to wander around to places every year. Studying abroad was out of the question.

Of course, she had to quit ballet, which she had been learning for over ten years. The ballet shoes and trophies were now just items kept in a one room house with no separate room.

The harmonious family quickly collapsed, and the reality was too bitter for the seventeen-year-old.

The good news was that she quickly adapted to all of these situations.

Hye Soo quickly realized how kind and delightful the world she had lived in was and how many things she used to be able to do, which were such cruel facts for her now. The fence that guarded her was broken, but she had to live on.

And so, ten years have passed.

Now, she was a second-year contract employee for a small advertising company. Even today, she was working overtime. Hye Soo, who was left behind alone and typed in anger, waltzed to the window with half a cup of coffee in her hand.

There was something dizzy flying in the street lit by orange lights.

“…Eye.”

A dry voice leaked out without her knowledge. At one point, she was treated like a favorite, but now she was treated like a troublemaker.

“You’re old, Ji Hye Soo.”

She hated snowy days as she became an adult. Somehow, it felt quite bitter.

“Let’s get to work.”

Hye Soo stretched a couple of times before going back to her seat.

It was two o’clock in the morning that she finished the work.

“Oh, it’s chilly.”

A snowy Friday night. Unfortunately, the subway stopped running a while ago, and taxis were not in sight at all. The cheap woolen coat wasn’t enough to prevent the winter winds, and she tried eagerly to find taxis on her way to a nearby convenience store.

The traffic light turned green, and Hye Soo looked left and right and crossed the path.

Although the car, which seemed to be slowing down, suddenly began to speed up, then crossed the lane and rushed towards her with a fearful momentum.

Hit!

The moment she frowned at the headlight, her body floated up, and Hye Soo fell in an instant. The car that hit her didn’t stop, ran down the road, and disappeared from sight.

It was strange.

The scene in front of her played very slowly. She didn’t feel any pain. ‘Is this a dream?’ However, the flowing hot blood behind her neck and her lips which were ice cold, says otherwise.

‘What am I going to do now?’

It was getting more difficult to move her eyelids as time passed.

‘Am I dying? Am I really dying?’

When faced with death, what came to mind were surprisingly trivial and useless things. ‘Oh, I didn’t clean the room, how was my room? What about my things? I wasn’t ready for the presentation on Monday. Oh my, the novel I was reading yesterday, so who was the culprit? To die while working. …This is so unfair.’

All kinds of thoughts came to mind in the loitering playing scenery.

Hye Soo shouted endlessly inside her head, even though she could barely gasp for breath.

‘I don’t want to die. Help me.’

She muttered those two words repeatedly, ‘I want to live,’ and eventually, she passed away.

***

‘It would have been better if something like you were not born.’

Hye Soo woke up and closed her eyes with the back of her hand.

‘The same scene again…’

When she closed her eyes, the same dream continued to play. It was so vivid that she cried every time she woke up. Hye Soo wanted to sew the lips that spit out those hurtful words, but her body seldom moved.

She was confused.

This was absolutely not her memory, but her heart crumbled as if she had actually been through this before. Only after her feelings subsided, Hye Soo looked around.

‘This is the same, too…’

Confused, she was still wondering if everything was just a dream. However, when she opened her eyes, it was always the same scenery repeated, and another memory became clearer day by day. She tried to turn away, but in the end, she was forced to accept.

This… was after death.

“I… have been reborned.”

Landlord, landladies.

Not so long ago, there were many so-called ‘lords’ in Hye Soo’s life, though this time, she also joined the ranks of the Lord as well.

In this life, she was Sienna Stern, the Princess of the Stern kingdom in the novel Stern’s Bells.

Of course, she was not the main character.

The main characters of the novel are Pierre Stern, her half-brother, and Eleanor Watson, the illegitimate son of the Watson family.

Pierre was the crown prince of Stern, with bright blue eyes and dazzling blonde hair as if melted gold. At first glance, Pierre’s seemingly perfect weakness was birth. It was because he was a prince born to a lover of the king, not the formal queen.

And Sienna was born to a queen a few years later.

In short, it was a case where the genealogy was twisted because a child was born from the concubine rather than the original wife.

His anxiety about her birth, feelings of inferiority, and the stress from her mother’s presence have haunted Pierre. Ironically, however, it was the birth that made Pierre close to the female lead Eleanor, a public figure.

The illegitimate children of the king and the duke feel a sense of sympathy and compassion for each other and are strongly attracted to each other. Of course, that was why there were many supporting characters for conflict since it wouldn’t be interesting if the love was easily achieved.

Grita Winslet, the only daughter of Marquisate Winslet, competes with Eleanor in the future competition for the Crown Prince. She was the villain of this novel who harassed Eleanor.

And Jad Valencia.

Jad was a loyal servant of the Stern Kingdom, the successor of Marquisate Valencia, and a long-time unrequited partner of Sienna.

Thus, the fragile princess, who has had unrequited love for her whole life, had also been persecuted for her whole life by her half-brother. Her narrative was the mistress of misery, but the worst has yet to come.

Sienna died on her twentieth birthday in a mysterious accident.

“Haha.”

Hye Soo faintly smiled.

「 Stern’s Bells 」 was discontinued due to the writer’s circumstances. So, the death of Sienna was the ending of this incomplete novel.

“Why…”

There was no middle ground in this life. At best, she possessed a princess, but she was short-lived. She begged for life and was handed a chance to die again.

‘How much time has passed?’

Hye Soo decided to get out of bed and stroll towards the terrace. She squeezed her eyes shut for a moment as the sunshine poured in, but soon the vibrant spring garden was caught in her eyes.

“The weather is so good.”

Even though it was a little chilly, it was a sunny spring with moderate sunlight and wind. Hye Soo closed her eyes and repeated her name.

“I’m Sienna. Sienna Stern.”

It wasn’t as strange as she thought. Moreover, there was no particular lingering regret in Ji Hye Soo’s life. She couldn’t settle anywhere.

There was nothing precious there.

So, nothing was very different for Hye Soo.

“It smells good.”

As she smelled the flowers hanging from the railing, she heard the noise of the attendants who were working in the garden.

“Ah, poor princess. I think she went totally crazy. She threw things and broke all the mirrors in the room.”

“What happened to that gentle girl? Well, Lord Pierre came and scared her so much.”

“I heard she was dumped by Lord Valencia.”

“But why isn’t His Majesty visiting?”

Even though the princess in the country was sick, the castle was peaceful. The king did not come to find her, nor offered her any good medicine.

‘So, this is my situation?’

As they were finishing their work, the voices of the attendants gradually faded, and the sound of laughter mixed with compassion and ridicule also went away. Sienna, watching the situation, gently raised her mouth.

“Huh…”

Like the vast garden, her head was in the flower garden.

“I’m a princess and have a lot of money, plus nobody cares about me…”

Folding her fingers one by one, she grasped her current situation.

“It’s the best!”

Sienna jumped back into bed. The softness, which seemed to melt her body, wrapped around her.

“Ah, good.”

It didn’t matter what others said or the family’s indifference. ‘Say whatever you want.’ The humiliation was painful, and the loneliness was a luxury. The only worry she had was the scheduled death.

“My birthday is in winter, the day when the first snow blew. The horse-drawn carriage on its way to the temple at dawn and the news of the death of the princess who came to the Royal Palace…”

She recalled the last days of Sienna that were mentioned in the book.

Poor Sienna dies on her birthday. Though in other words, she was alive until at least before her birthday. What would happen in the future was in Hye Soo’s mind, and there was plenty of time left until then.

She hugged the large pillow tightly.

Sienna was now the only princess in the kingdom.

In other words, no overtime, no weekend work, no hell hours on the way to work, and not crowded buses. Instead, there was a fluffy bed, a large room with good light, and an endless garden.

That was the most important to her right now.

“Ah, what should I do. I love this!”

Thinking about all the things she had now, Sienna was excited and rolled her feet with her face on the pillow.

“It’s the best to have a lot of money.”

She decided to put off worrying about the future for now.

“I’m just staying here for a while. So, let’s just enjoy it while I can.”

She reached out her hand and waved the bell on her table. A clear sound rang, but there was no answer. So, She rang the bell again, and after a while, the door carefully opened, and Anna called Sienna with a suspicious face.

“Just in case, the princess called me, right? I’m not mistaken, am I?”

Well, it wasn’t unreasonable that Anna was surprised. Everyone said that the princess was crazy, so she wouldn’t have thought that the princess was sane. Sienna decided to clarify the week she was weird and bizarre.

“Anna. Was I a little weird before?”

“Well, that’s…”

“I guess I was sensitive because I wasn’t feeling well.”

It was a lax excuse, but this was the best she could come up with at the moment. Fortunately, Anna had no doubts at all.

“If the princess is okay, I’m okay.”

“Thank you, Anna.”

“Don’t say that. It’s natural for me. How do you feel now?”

“Very good.”

Sienna laughed brightly, deliberately trying to reassure Anna.

“I want to take a bath. Please prepare it.”

“Yes, I’ll prepare right away.”

She beckoned the maids and soaked in the bath filled with bath salt. The pleasant air and warm water quickly made her mind drowsy and her whole body tired. The wind blew the aromatic scent lightly over her head.

At this fantastic moment, Sienna made a pledge.

‘I’m going to live happily for a long time.’

The princess play started now.

“I want to change my mood. Make it very colorful.”

When she finished bathing, Sienna stood in front of the dressing table and surrounded by the maids.

She was wearing the indigo blue velvet dress, which naturally hangs from the waist. It had colorful jewels studded throughout the hem and sparkles with every movement of hers.

Sienna glanced around.

“You are so beautiful!”

Half a mixture of flattery and sincerity popped up here and there. She obviously knew it’s good to hear, so she just decided to listen to the praises.

‘Colorful is just my taste!’

Her long hair was finely braided and hung to one side. Sienna wore a wide-brimmed hat with a white ribbon tied around her head.

After make-up, she and Anna decided to go out to the garden. It was because Sienna said she wanted to have lunch in the garden. The whole time she walked through the garden, Siena was excited as if she was on a picnic. On the sunny day, following a beautiful path, the white table in the middle of her garden had food prepared for her.

“Wow!”

‘When was the last time I had a proper meal.’

Sienna admired the delicious food without realizing it.

Fully filled the baskets were voluminous sandwiches and golden baked bread. The three-tier tray contained scones and small cakes, and the silver tray contained appetizing grapes and fruit jelly. Sienna first took a sip of black tea cooled to the right temperature, and picked up a scone. Then, she applied the strawberry jam and took a bite while taking a sip of black tea.

This time, she spread orange marmalade on the toasted bread and took a bite. It had a crisp, light sound and a refreshing feeling. After scooping up the sandwich with plenty of fresh vegetables, she slowed down her eating speed.

“Ah, this is happiness.”

While she tapped on her stomach and soaked in the happiness, the servants around her looked at each other.

‘Is that the princess we know?’

They were bewildered by the princess’s eating for the first time in their lives. Because Sienna was someone who only ate food to the point of barely filling her hunger. Suddenly, feeling their gaze, she swept the edge of her mouth with her thumb.

‘Did I eat too much? Ah, well, whatever.’

Sienna was now the happiest after a long time.

Flowers in full bloom, leaves fluttering in the wind, and delicious food.

‘With these things, what more do I need? The world is so beautiful.’

It was the moment when she sang a hum and poured another cup of tea. Anna, who was sitting in front of her, holding the tea suddenly struck her hand, saying that she almost forgot.

“Ah, that’s right. Princess! There’s good news.”

“Good news?”

“Soon, Marquis of Valencia and Jad are joining us!”

“Really?”

“Yes! It looks like His Majesty will have tea time in the newly completed garden this time.”

“I see.”

“It’s just my feeling, but maybe they’re thinking of your engagement.”

“Hmm.”

Anna seemed a little excited, but unlike her, Sienna was still stiff.

“Are you not happy?”

“Well…”

‘Should I be happy?’

To be honest, she had no idea.

She was not thinking about anything, but truthfully, she felt like she didn’t want to think anything too intensely.

In addition, one of the many reasons for Pierre’s harassment of Siena was the arranged marriage to the Marquis of Valencia. It could be a threat to Pierre if the marriage to the Marquis of Valencia, who was also very popular with strong military power, was finally established.

Though, of course, she had no intention of marrying Jad, and the throne was also out of her interest.

‘Why would I hang on the guy who hates me?’

She wasn’t free enough to do something so stupid. Her marriage to Jad was just a short delay that would be good for both him and her.

‘Yes, right.’

She concluded briefly. However, for Anna, Siena’s attitude was quite shocking.

Jad Valencia, whose name alone used to dye her cheeks with a rose-colored tint, was now bringing her an expression of a princess who had been figuring out what dress to wear for a long time.

“Oh my gosh.”

The sound of her heart burst out from her mouth.

“…Mr. Jad is coming?” Anna repeated herself several more times as if she couldn’t believe it. ‘I wonder what happened that day.’

As her expression became serious, Sienna put down the teacup and slowly rolled her head.

‘Right. I used to follow him a lot.’

Anyone who knew it was one unrequited love.

‘If I act too calm here, I’ll look suspicious, right?’ Sienna pondered for a moment, then put her eyes down and thought. She was rather confident in acting.

“Well, you know, Anna. I’m thinking of taking my mind away from Jad now.”

As if trying to end her long unrequited love, she was calm, but there was a hint of sad struggle in her expression.

“Jad, no, Sir Valencia wants to break this marriage, as everyone knows.”

“Princess…”

“It’s upsetting to be everyone’s laughing stock, and I hate when someone becomes unhappy because of me.”

Anna’s eyes got moist again. “My poor princess…”

“I’m fine.”

She laughed lightly, but it made Anna look more sad. In the quiet garden, their conversation could be heard very well. Compassionate gazes poured out from the surroundings, but Siena just drank her tea without saying a word.

“I like things the way it is now.”

No matter what everyone said, she was 200% sincere.

***

The only concern she had right now was her death as she was getting closer to the time.

Was it really impossible for her to get close to Pierre?

In many romance fantasy novels she had seen so far, the villainous older brothers were usually little sibling-fools.

A hopeful scenario was drawn for a while, but it was literally just for a moment. She shook her head straight away.

‘Huh. I already told myself I wasn’t going to change anyone.’ Sienna has been harassed more than anything else mentioned in the novel. Her most upset memory was being trapped in her closet because she was afraid of narrow spaces.

‘He’s a bad guy from the bent twig.’

[ T/N: This was a part of a proverb ‘as the twig is bent, the tree is inclined,’ meaning early influence makes a permanent effect. ]

There was little room for rehabilitation. It was way past the time to find a better opportunity. She would instead appeal with cuteness if she possessed this body when she was younger…

‘Well, if you’re twenty, it’s not really the age to act cute anymore.’

Unfortunately, Sienna never had the desire to be king in the past, and even now, she had no more desire to be a king. Why would she do that? This was a good place to live shortly.

However, it was obvious that Pierre, who was suspicious, would not try to leave a bud of anxiety.

To survive, she needed a more certain solution. ‘So, what if we don’t go to that place on my birthday? Or somehow pretend to be dead…’ She was thinking to herself, and was surprised by her thoughts that Sienna opened her mouth.

Oh.

“Aren’t I a genius?”

“Yes?”

‘Oh no.’ Her thoughts came out of her mouth. Surprised, Anna missed her spoon after taking a spoonful of jellies.

“I’m sorry. I thought about something else for a while. What are we talking about?”

“It’s your debut.”

“Oh, that’s right. That was it.”

About a month from now, a debutante ball will be held in the castle.

“You have to get the dress quickly. The Capital’s boutique is already lively.”

Normally, nobles and royals enter the social world at the age of sixteen. The Debutante Ball was the most significant event for young men and women to enjoy a get-together naturally. However, because Sienna’s body was weak, she has been absent so far. Hence, at the slightly late age of twenty, she was about to take her first steps into the social world.

‘This debutante was worth witnessing.’

A triangular relationship that cannot be missed when it comes to romance. At the ballroom, there was going to be a fire fight between Jad and Pierre, with Eleanor in between.

And obviously, it was a miserable day for Sienna. She had to watch her so-beloved fiancé ask another woman for the first dance.

‘Wow. What a bad guy.’

The ball lasted for three days, and it was common to wear a different dress every day. At this time of year, even the poor aristocrats struggled to get their hands on expensive dresses. As such, it was an event that everyone prepared with lights on their eyes.

There was no place like this for the children of the nobles who had reached the right age to search for marriage partners.

“Princess is the most beautiful of the young ladies gathered there. I will definitely make sure it is that way.” Anna was more serious than ever.

It seemed quite entertaining, so Sienna decided to match Anna’s rhythm.

It was when the two were talking about the latest dress trends. While she was eagerly chatting, the spoon in her hand fell off, and Siena accidentally dropped one of her scones.

The exceptionally round scone rolled around and stopped at a pair of feet.

Shoes made of expensive leather.

“Uh….”

“Would you be interested in this?”

Sienna slowly raised her head to look up at the owner of the shoes.

He had dark blue and sculptural eyes with blond hair that shines like sunshine. The handle of the sword on his waist was engraved with a violet pattern, symbolizing the royal family.

‘Pierre? Why is he out of there?’

With no time for Sienna to say anything, Pierre brutally trampled the scones at his feet. At that moment, she frowned without even knowing. She knew it wasn’t only the scones he really stepped on.

Sienna wasn’t the only one surprised by his sudden appearance. The attendants around were also watching the two while holding their breath.

“Brother, what brings you here…”

“There were rumors. You’re going crazy, breaking things and just laying down without eating anything.”

“Ah. I’m sorry for the worries. I was just not feeling well for a while.”

“Really?” He laughed loudly.

As the main character, he was filthy handsome. She smiled nicely to reassure Pierre, but she realized a little later that it had offended him.

“Are you smiling?”

Oops.

“You’re smiling at me? How dare you?”

This was why habits are scary.

She was used to responding to nonsense with a smile.

Pierre laughed coldly and hurriedly approached, then he roughly grabbed her chin and lifted it up. Because of the significant difference in height, when he looked down like that, she felt a choking sensation of getting crushed.

“What the hell are you doing?”

“Brother…”

“Do not do anything, whatever it might be. Nothing.”

In the past, Sienna would have cried. However, Hye Soo was originally someone who did not shed tears easily.

‘But I still have to shed a tear here.’

It wasn’t scary at all, but she pressed her tears button.

Giselle. Sienna called Pierre in a trembling voice while recalling the only show that made her cry every time she saw it.

“Brother Pierre…”

As she squeezed tears thinly according to the role she was given, her eyes quickly turned red and thick teardrops were dripping down.

When he saw that, he released Sienna.

It was a confirmation of his dominance. Pierre used his shoes to kick the lawn a few times then turned around.

“Sob, sob.”

Sienna sat back and sobbed.

The air in the peaceful garden suddenly became heavier. All the servants were stiffed and stopped whatever they were doing. However, the sobbing gradually subsided and soon stopped.

She woke up, calmly wiping away her tears.

“Pr, Princess?”

Everyone was confused by the unfamiliar situation.

Sienna slowly lifted her middle finger as she watched Pierre’s back as he moved away.