“The lady seems to have severe anemia, so it would be recommended to maintain a nutritious diet henceforth.”
I’ve gained weight by eating the food given to me for the past three months, but it seemed I was still lacking in iron.
“An-Anemia?”
Countess Latni held her cheeks and shrieked as if she were falling from the edge of a cliff.
“Ch-chef! Chef!! Bring the turkey and the sheep and the goose!!! And anything that can cure anemia! Right~! Now~~!”
Despite the Countess’s fuss, the doctor did not react to her sudden fit. His demeanor remained unshakable as he continued calmly.
“There appears to be no major problem at the moment, but the young lady suggests to be suffering temporary memory damage due to the aftereffects of the accident.”
I did temporarily lose my memory. This doctor was not a complete quack.
The expression on his face conveyed apprehension, although he didn’t note the matter any further.
“Above all else, it is a top priority for the young lady to regain stability. She is in a very unstable condition both physically and psychologically. You must pay extra attention to her, as regaining strength will play a large factor in her safe recovery.”
The doctor ran a look over the restless family and shook his head helplessly. ‘There isn’t a chance such fussy people will simply relax after this’. The sentence could almost be read on his face.
“If the lady maintains balance, she will regain her lost memories as time passes by.”
It worked out as Serrine predicted. Even now that I claimed my memories were damaged in an accident that at first glance seemed suspicious, no one as much as suspected my words.
I ran my fingers over the ring engraved with the symbol of the Latni family that Serrine had passed on to me.
She disappeared.
Leaving me as ‘Serrine’.
“Light a candle that will calm her mind and soul right now! Bring five. W-wait! No! Light up ten!”
Seeing the blockhead couple’s actions, I thought I could somehow sympathize with the eyes of Serrine; the eyes which longed for freedom.
If she had announced the poisoning incident, the fuss would be incomparable to the current one.
However, unlike her, tears threatened to spill from my eyes. They weren’t even my real family… yet they called me daughter and cared for my health.
“Si-sister Serrine.”
Amid the commotion, Diletsha carefully approached my bed.
She was a child who was not mentioned much in the novel.
According to the book, Serrine didn’t hold any favor towards Diletsha. This was because of her status as an adopted daughter.
Even as Diletsha greeted her kindly, she coldly ignored the child and seldom spoke a word to her.
“D-did you really forget me?”
It caused my heart to ache terribly as tears ran down Diletsha’s plump cheeks.
I didn’t know such an important fact that wasn’t mentioned in the novel.
‘I didn’t know her younger sister would be this cute!’
The moment I first witnessed Diletsha, her deer-like brown eyes didn’t fail to catch my eye.
Her fluttering blonde hair was reminiscent of cotton candy, and as a girl who only recently attended her debut, the child’s stature remained of short length. She didn’t lose her baby fat yet, which in turn added to her adorable impression.
If Serrine was a ferocious cat, Diletsha was but a cute baby deer.
No, Diletsha was cuteness itself.
How could you ignore such a cute little sister? She’s too adorable!
“It-it’s alright. I’ll remember soon.”
You’re my favorite person starting today, Diletsha! I’ll bury all the sadness and grief caused by the previous Serrine!
As I answered cautiously, Diletsha finally collapsed against my legs, her tears pouring out.
She started weeping.
“Sister! Sister was the first to answer me! Sister Serrine!”
Oh, my. How can she be so cute?
She cried while continuously calling my name. I held the urge to scream by covering my mouth with the back of my hand.
Serrine didn’t have any preconceived notions. She also told me to do as I pleased.
“Diletsha, don’t cry.”
Starting now, I’ll act according to my wishes!
I raised my trembling hand and patted Diletsha’s small back. Diletsha’s whimpering grew stronger.
***
It’s been a while since then.
In the meantime, I spent leisurely days and nights eating, sleeping, and playing under the pretext of losing my memory. Life as a slave didn’t seem to haunt my complexion since.
In the meantime, my figure improved its condition quite nicely, while my frizzy hair stood glossy and well-managed.
My dull and rough skin was softening into a sweet, pale color.
‘Pretty.’
I recalled Serrine the very first day we met.
My current reflection against the mirror was not much different from Serrine’s at the time.
As Serrine claimed, no one in the family once doubted me. They were simply worried about my health.
Meaning.
“This is indisputably effortless.”
This place was like heaven for me.
“Serrine, how are you? Are you feeling alright today?”
“I’ve gotten much better, mother. I also feel refreshed.”
“That’s great. The weather is nice today, so I was thinking a bit of tea time in the garden wouldn’t be a bad idea. Serrine, why don’t you join us?”
I could sense Diletsha nervously glancing my way from behind the Countess.
Although the child had been steadily approaching me for several days now, she remained vigilant.
She acted like a small pet seeking to grow close to her owner. I couldn’t help but chuckle.
“Of course, mother.”
My welcoming smile caused the Countess to pull a handkerchief and pretend to wipe away invisible tears.
She appeared so moved that we would have tea time together.
Serrine had been too indifferent to her family.
As I stood to follow the Countess, she held the shawl wrapped around her neck and adjusted the cloth above my shoulders.
My mother’s touch was subtly felt from her actions.
“Your body isn’t fully recovered, so you must be careful, baby. Alright?”
“Yes, mother.”
It was the very first time I was engulfed in someone’s warmth so mesmerizingly. It was nice.
Diletsha sneaked to my side and squirmed as I left the room.
“Can I sit beside you? Sister.”
It was courageous behavior, but her stiff face conveyed her restlessness.
Her appearance was equivalent to that of a deer who was shaking helplessly before a beast. My heart dropped at the sight.
“Yes, it’s alright.”
I threw away my trembling voice and spoke steadily. Diletsha’s eyes widened at the unexpected response.
After a while, she grinned broadly, nodded her head, and turned while hastening her steps in excitement.
It was my first time in the garden.
A bird stood on a large tree while chirping away. There were various flowers of different kinds exuding fragrant aromas.
As I seated myself on one of the chairs arranged for the prepared table, the maids poured tea and cut the cake into small pieces before setting the finest one on my plate.
“Serrine, will you be able to attend next week’s prom?”
The Countess took a sip of her tea worriedly as she brought the sudden discussion.
I tilted my head while savoring the sweet taste of the tea. Diletsha, seated beside me, grabbed my sleeve and chattered on, her voice thrilled.
“A prom will be held for the princess candidates who will stand beside the Crown Prince!”
“…Ah.”
That was the beginning of the novel.
An event in which the candidates will attend a ball held for them. That is where the meeting between the male and female protagonists will begin.
‘The story proceeds as of now.’
I let out a small sigh and nodded my head.
“I’m not sure.”
I shrugged slightly and enjoyed a sip of my tea.
Must I attend such an event?
If I left for the place, I would counter the female protagonist April, who would become the Crown Princess, the male protagonist Crown Prince Paryan, and the sub-male protagonist, who would end ‘my’ life for his one-sided love’s happiness.
‘There’s no purpose for me to participate.’
I was simply required to quietly enjoy what Serrine left for me.
Serrine wasn’t even me, so there wasn’t anything I demanded.
“I will not attend…”
“Can I go to the ball with sister Serrine?”
Before I could finish, Diletsha gazed at the Countess and asked in a pleading manner.
She covered her mouth with her hands as if surprised by her own voice.
“Do you want to attend the upcoming prom, Diletsha?”
“Yes! I’ve never been to a ball hosted by the Imperial Palace. O-of course, if Sister Serrine allows it…”
“But Diletsha, you didn’t receive an invitation.”
In response to the Count’s hesitant tone, Diletsha dropped her shoulders helplessly.
“That’s true, but if someone is invited, they could take me.”
Diletsha glanced at me with desperate eyes.
“Diletsha, don’t put pressure on Serrine. Serrine hasn’t fully recovered yet. She herself doesn’t know whether she will be able to attend the ball.”
Diletsha nodded dismally as the Countess rebuked her in a sweet but firm tone.
Her small sighs make my heart ache.
‘It isn’t a problem to take her, but…’
The real problem was the fact that I would meet the protagonists there.
There are so many novels with such foolish plots!
I will not die.
“I am sorry, Diletsha… I apologize, mother. I am not feeling well, so I think I’ll have to omit this once.”
I would never make such a mistake. As I stroked Diletsha’s soft hair, she poked the cake with her sulkily.
“It’s alright, your father will tell his Majesty well. Don’t worry.”
Yes. That was why I concluded my worries.
I really did think that way.
***
“My lady, you have a guest.”
“Guest?”
The maid brought up such news as I was enjoying my book leisurely. A guest? Were there any guests who would visit Serrine?
“Accompany them to the drawing-room. I’ll be there soon.”
“Yes, I understand.”
Who was it? Did Serrine have any friends, to begin with?
‘If she had a friend, it would have been her responsibility to let me know in advance.’
Flustered, I put down the book I was reading, checked on my appearance, and descended the stairs to the drawing-room.
As I entered, an unfamiliar man stood before me. He arrogantly lifted his right leg over his other, tilting his head cockily.
“I haven’t seen you as of late, so I came in person.”
Jet black hair and indifferent eyes of the same color. The description may seem ordinary, but the man wasn’t quite the word.
How to describe him; a wild, untamed beast. A black panther.
***