Episode 2

For three days now, Luine had inhabited Caerina's body. Her altered demeanor raised eyebrows throughout the mansion. The typically sullen girl who would cast down her gaze when encountering others was now exuding warmth and flashing sweet smiles.

"What's with our daughter?" Sara whispered to Kledson.

Kledson shrugged. "I'm not sure. She seems like a totally different person."

However, this morning Caerina was visibly irritated in the dining room at breakfast. Her meal consisted solely of a piece of bread and a bowl of clear soup. No other food graced her plate.

"Father, Mother, why have I had nothing but bread and soup for the past three days? Aren't there any meats or seafood?" Caerina inquired.

"My child, have you forgotten? Our finances are in dire straits. We can't afford meat or luxury foods beyond bread and soup," Kledson explained.

"When we have a little extra money, I will buy you some meat. For now, just eat this to help you recover quickly," Sara said soothingly.

Caerina sighed deeply. She had no appetite at all. Meanwhile, Nathan was eating voraciously. Caerina shot Nathan a perplexed look, puzzled by the tastes of the mansion's residents.

"What is it? Why aren't you eating yours?" Nathan asked, disturbed by Caerina's gaze.

"Your appetite amazes me."

"A knight must eat well, for I expend energy cleansing the lands."

Caerina handed her bread and soup to Nathan.

"Then, take this. I'm not hungry. Now I must return to my room; there are tasks I need to attend to."

Everyone gaped at Caerina, baffled by the girl's thoughts.

Caerina lay back on her bed, her emerald eyes ceaselessly scanning the ceiling. The state of the Marquess Navre's residence was pitiful: cracked walls, a decaying garden, and a scant number of servants.

Since Caerina's 'resurrection,' Eusebio Empire had been abuzz. They were still discussing Caerina.

"Arghhhh! Damn it!" Caerina flung a pillow randomly.

"Why do I have to be in this poor girl's body?! Why aren't the gods fair to me? I worked so hard to make my company a leading one. Yet, at my peak, I die and end up trapped in the body of a destitute noble."

Caerina never ceased cursing the deity that sent her to this new world. She regretted many aspects of being trapped in the body of this feeble, impoverished, and cowardly girl.

"Well, I'll just have to live with it for now. First thing's first, I need to sort out my divorce from that scoundrel of a Duke. I won't hang on to a man who cheats with commoners," Caerina resolved.

Before taking any action, Caerina examined her acne-riddled face in the mirror.

"I need to get rid of these pimples to let my true beauty shine."

Caerina left her room and headed for the kitchen to gather ingredients needed to treat her acne.

"Your Grace the Duchess, I mean, Miss, what are you doing in here? You shouldn't be in the kitchen," said Gilma, the cook of the Marquess Navre's house.

"Gilma, I need some green tea. Do you have any?"

Gilma didn't respond immediately. She was puzzled by Caerina's sudden request for green tea.

"Yes, Miss. I do have some green tea in stock."

Caerina beamed. "Great! I'd like to take some of it, please."

Gilma promptly handed over the requested green tea. Whatever Caerina's purpose was, she had no clue.

"Thank you, Gilma. I'm sorry for interrupting your work."

Gilma stood frozen, blinking hard and deep in thought about the changes in Caerina.

"Is she truly Miss Caerina? Why does she act so differently since her return from the dead?"

Caerina commenced her first experiment in this foreign world, concocting a green tea facemask to alleviate her inflamed acne.

Periodically, Sara and Kledson peeked at their daughter's activities, once again questioning the transformation within Caerina. The once gloomy and morose girl had suddenly become cheerful and friendly.

"It's done! I've successfully made the facemask. Now it's time to apply it to my face," Caerina declared.

Before applying the mask, Caerina washed her face. Then she evenly spread the mask across her face, waiting just fifteen minutes for it to absorb before rinsing it off.

"Hopefully, this will swiftly banish the acne. It's so uncomfortable to have my face assaulted by pimples."

The next day, to Caerina’s surprise, a letter arrived from Duke Wadson's residence. Heston, still legally her husband, was requesting to see her. Without hesitation, Caerina prepared to visit her husband’s home.

"Will you be alright? Perhaps you shouldn't go there again," Sara said, deeply worried for Caerina.

"Indeed, you needn't exhaust yourself visiting that cad's home. He has caused you pain," Kledson chimed in with equal concern.

Nathan was silently watching Caerina, a worrisome look in his eyes.

"I must. There are matters I need to discuss with that scoundrel. If necessary, I'll beat him to a pulp."

"Beat him?"

Caerina offered an innocent smile. "Certainly, trash like Heston deserves a beating. Wouldn't you agree, Brother?" She shifted her gaze to Nathan.

Nathan gave a thumbs up. "Yes, you should definitely do that. Do you require my assistance?"

Nathan was infuriated by Heston's behavior. Knowing how much Caerina had loved that cheating scoundrel, he reconsidered his desire to thrash Heston.

"No need. I can manage on my own."

After bidding farewell, Caerina departed for Duke Wadson's residence. Although she didn't show it, Sara and Kledson remained concerned for their daughter.

"Should I secretly follow her?" Kledson said, eyes not leaving Caerina's departing carriage.

“No, Father. Caerina seems to have a plan. She's beginning to realize that her love for Duke Wadson has been a waste of time," Nathan remarked.

"Let's just pray. May Caerina return home safely and encounter no trouble at Duke Wadson's place," Sara added.

In the end, they had no choice but to let Caerina go alone to her husband's residence. They prayed she would not return to a place where she had been cast aside. Truly, they could not bear to see her hurt by the same man again. Once was enough; there would be no second chance.

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