Chapter 2
‘You.’
The duke stuttered, as if he had not anticipated a positive response.
‘Anything you desire.’
Despite his promises, he would not grant my wishes.
The smell of the old hut I had lived in for the past three years tickled my nostrils.
The damp scent of wood and Alicia’s olive-green eyes, which had gazed at me with tearful sorrow, lingered in my memory.
“Irina, when you return to the duke’s house, you must always consider yourself first.”
“Do not get hurt; live only for yourself. And…”
Alicia, who had been glancing at Lian behind her, spoke again.
“Do not trust anyone in the duke’s family.”
Alicia harbored more distrust towards the duke’s family than I did, or even more than I could imagine.
I recalled Alicia’s reluctance to speak about her father’s death.
No matter how much the duke called me back, he would never acknowledge me as his daughter.
Even if I lived as April or as her substitute, the name ‘Irina’ would never come to light.
In the duke’s study, where even breaths seemed to be stilled as if time had stopped, someone exhaled heavily as if surfacing from a long submersion in water.
“Then let’s think about the conditions slowly. It’s not for a long time.”
“…”
“It’s only for a year.”
“Are you really… okay with this?”
I could not discern the true intention behind the question. Surely, it would be evident that it was far from acceptable. Did he merely wish to hear ‘it’s okay’ from me?
I cast a glance downwards and fixed my gaze on Duke Alexis, who was observing me.
From his gaunt appearance, I forced a faint smile.
“Please be ready to fulfill my request.”
This was the proposal I had anticipated, and the reason for coming here was clear.
If they had known what was on my mind, they wouldn’t have made such a wretched proposal.
“As I mentioned before, I can grant you anything you desire.”
“That is fortunate.”
I narrowed my eyes at his satisfactory response.
The reason for calling me back was likely something that had happened to April. And my presence here was not merely due to being expelled.
I had returned to repay the duke’s family for never honoring their promise to my father.
“But if I am here, won’t Miss April be displeased?”
“…”
“Miss April claims that I pushed her down the stairs.”
It seemed unreasonable for the victim and the perpetrator to live under the same roof.
The reason I was expelled from the duke’s family was that the false lady intended to harm the genuine one to take her place.
Thus, I had been confined to a remote annex as a form of punishment.
“April is currently residing in the villa.”
Duke Alexis replied calmly.
“She will stay there for a year, so you won’t encounter her.”
“She is staying at the villa?”
It was entirely reasonable for April to stay there. However, I was curious as to why she would spend a year there.
“Did something happen to her, or to Miss April?”
It sounded less like a simple vacation and more like a period of atonement.
Seeing that no quick response was forthcoming, it seemed unlikely I would receive an answer.
It might be better to change the subject rather than wait for an answer.
“Then, can you answer this?”
“…”
“Why do you suddenly need a substitute for Miss April?”
Duke Alexis, who had been hesitating to answer, bit his lower lip tightly again.
It seemed he was not inclined to answer.
The need for April’s substitute was likely related to her year-long stay at the villa.
I briefly pondered whether his reluctance was due to a desire not to answer or an inability to do so.
“... Because of the engagement between April and Prince Ferpone.”
After a long pause, Duke Alexis spoke calmly.
“That is why I am making this request.”
Indeed, everyone in the duke’s family knew that April had fallen for Prince Ferpone at first sight and desperately wanted to be with him.
I nodded slightly in understanding. Despite her year-long stay at the villa, it appeared to be in her best interest.
Well, April’s matters were not my primary concern right now.
As I glanced at Lian, who neither affirmed nor denied the duke’s words, the duke continued quietly.
“For the next year, everyone in the household, including myself, will treat you as a princess.”
Their offer to treat me as a princess was not out of goodwill towards me but to benefit themselves.
It would be problematic for them if it were discovered that there was a substitute for the princess. However, as long as they promised to grant me everything I desired, my situation was not unfavorable.
“Irina, thank you… and I am sorry.”
The mere fact that he called me Irina was absurd.
I had lived as April for six years, and despite my desperate plea to be taken from my father’s hands, they had never called me Irina after finding their real daughter, April.
The reason they had not easily sent me back to my original home was that I was needed for April to blend seamlessly among the nobles.
Even though I had begged them to call me by my original name, Irina, they had ignored me. And now, they were calling me Irina.
I bowed my head slightly to those who had only recognized me as someone else after becoming a substitute and quietly left the study.
“I will guide you to your room.”
The butler, Patrick, who had been standing guard in front of the study, approached quickly and led the way.
The hall was opulently decorated, but the study, which Duke Alexis frequented, was neat and classical, reflecting his demeanor.
The hall was certainly April’s taste.
I hadn’t expected her to have such a flashy preference. I squinted my eyes to recall moments spent with April.
It was a bit of a nonsensical comparison, but when April was first brought to the duke’s family, we had lived together like sisters.
We wore similar or even identical clothes, and whether we were studying manners with a tutor or having tea, we did everything together.
Except for meeting friends and sleeping, we spent all our time together.
At that time, I thought we had gotten along quite well.
Even though they had found their real daughter, I held a vague hope that they might not abandon me and that I could continue living as April’s sister and part of the family.
The time when the treatment towards me began to change drastically was when April had become a perfect noble lady.
“Irina!”
The voice of Lian, calling me from behind, broke my reverie.
As I snapped out of my thoughts and turned around, Lian Hill Rise was running toward me with a worried expression.
It was unusual and refreshing to see Lian, who had never run, now sprinting.
“Yes.”
“I didn’t expect this.”
I quietly responded as he bit his lower lip tightly, almost as if tears were forming.
“What did you not expect?”
“I didn’t expect my father to take you back as his daughter…”
I smiled faintly at Lian’s naive remark.
It was amusing to see the eldest son of the duke’s family having such a naive view.
If he had thought rationally for a moment, he would have known that the duke would never do that.
I wondered what had made him so emotional.
The sun shone brightly through the large window in the corridor.
It had been a rainy winter when I left the duke’s family, but now, as I returned, it was a clear summer day.
The weather seemed to perfectly reflect the situation.
Although returning to the duke’s family was not quite in harmony with the fresh summer, it was fitting.
“Perhaps being treated as a princess for a year might improve your mood.”
“…”
“Moreover, my father will also give you a commensurate reward. Wouldn’t that be good for you as well?”
It was very amusing to see him so cheerful about it. Who would be pleased to be honored by the family that had abandoned them?
“I do not expect much from the duke’s family.”
They are not the type to regret having abandoned me, and even if they did, nothing would change.
“Just…”
I sighed with a look of disdain and lightly rubbed my shoulders.
The fatigue from the long carriage ride to the duke’s family had not yet dissipated.
Even though I had ridden in an expensive carriage with a smooth ride, it felt suffocating because of Lian’s presence.
“If you could protect me from Baron Barak while I am here, I would be grateful.”
I was anticipating that he would bark like a mad dog the moment he saw me.
“Please.”
Leaving Lian behind, I walked down the long corridor. When I glanced back, I gave a small nod to his statue-like, fixed expression.
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