Chapter 2
Rattle-! Rattle-!
The sound of a carriage’s wheel and horse grunting was heard simultaneously.
The carriage that carried Daisy was heading to the marquisate.
At first, she had to go right after the ceremony ended. But because the ceremony was rushed, several procedures were scrapped. So she packed her luggage and left right away.
Her lady-in-waiting named May constantly made a fuss, asking if she was tired or not.
“Lady, you’re really beautiful! You’re shining so brightly!”
“I guess I am.”
Daisy paid no mind to May’s words.
She didn’t want to hear about the wedding anymore.
She had expected how the guests viewed them, but she felt the wedding ceremony itself was extremely dry.
‘At the beginning of the ceremony, I gave him an expensive necklace and bracelet.’
Thereafter, Carlyx raised her veil with his firm hand, then he came close enough to be seen as if he kissed her and whispered.
–‘The contract, I look forward to working with you.’
His voice was incredibly cold.
Despite the lively applause from the guests, her heart did not flutter at all.
They didn’t even see each other as an ally.
‘Even I would show a little kindness in order to put on an act, but Carlyx would never do that.’
It wasn’t a wedding, it was hell.
If something went wrong, her life would be ruined.
She had to stay alert.
Hu. After taking a deep breath, May turned the hand mirror towards her.
“How can you be so pretty? Lady, no, I have to call you madam now. Madam! I don’t think anyone can outshine your appearance!”
“I’ve heard that more than a hundred times, so stop it now.”
Daisy looked at herself in the mirror.
She had already fully adapted to her appearance, which she found unfamiliar at first.
Blonde hair that hung down to her waist. Elongated eyes and lengthy straight eyelashes. Despite her icy impression, her lips were full of life.
I was living in Korea. I worked in a foreign company, died, and possessed the body of Daisy Colin.
‘Daisy Colin, she had a political marriage with the male lead, but she loved him with all her heart. Sadly, when he cheated on her, she died in a devastating state.’
I only knew of Daisy’s death because I read the spoiler, but I didn’t exactly know how Daisy died.
I recalled one memorable paragraph.
‘Daisy believed that a world without Carlyx was not a world. He was her world and universe.’
Maybe, it was a suicide.
When I thought of her gruesome end, my nerves were on edge.
“Madam, since you’re so beautiful, I’m sure the master will love you, too!”
Daisy, who lowered May’s hand mirror, leaned back comfortably.
“I don’t blame you for dreaming big.”
“It’s not a dream, I told you it’ll come true!”
“I’m not aware of how long you’ve had such a precognitive dream, but next time, you should dream of something possible.”
There was no way I wanted to face a tragic ending just because I love Carlyx.
‘I won’t love him. I will just maintain a business relationship with him as he wishes.’
To maintain my reputation, I would do my duty as the Marquis’ wife. When he returned from the third war, I would step down from my position graciously.
“Why do you think there’s no possibility!”
Daisy shrugged her shoulder.
How could I explain that I was able to know because I read it from a novel?
“Did you finish your investigation?”
That simple question made May’s face filled with complex emotions.
She hesitated for a while before handing over an envelope.
May asked carefully.
“Madam, what are you going to do?”
“What am I going to do?”
“You even came to spy in advance.”
Just as May said, Daisy came with her to the Marquis’ estate and looked around a week ago.
There was a gloomy and chilly wind blowing. It was such a place where darkness was rampant, and I didn’t want to walk there again.
The estate was terribly dreary.
That was the place where she had to change.
***
Daisy took a light step as she took the horseman’s hand. The eyes that followed her were sharp…
“Welcome, madam. I’m Tyler, the butler of Marquis Jean.”
…..and pleasantly plain.
I could see the shadows of two children through the window over there.
But then, Tyler took a step aside and blocked my vision.
Now I couldn’t see the children.
‘Did he do it on purpose?’
“It’s an honor to be here.”
Tyler, the butler who looked at least in his 60s, smiled profoundly.
Stroking his long, white beard, he looked so righteous that he didn’t leave any gap for me to probe into him.
“My master is waiting inside.”
Daisy took a quick look at Tyler. He was being polite to her, but that didn’t mean he liked her.
‘First of all, I’ll just have to observe.’
Daisy, who drew a small smile, nodded.
“Lead the way.”
As soon as I entered the dining room, a luxurious chandelier captured my eyes.
The table, which was enough for ten people to sit on, was covered with a tablecloth embroidered with sophisticated flowers.
The vintage wine-colored wallpaper and numerous candlelights were gracefully arranged around the table.
“What’s the meaning of this?”
Carlyx was nowhere to be seen.
At that sight, Daisy stopped her stride. Her smile deepened.
“Tyler, you said Carlyx was definitely here.”
“I’m sor-”
“Instead of an apology, shouldn’t you explain the situation first?”
Daisy’s expression was gentle, but her voice clearly showed displeasure.
Tyler answered politely without making eye contact with her.
“My lady and young master weren’t feeling well today, and their condition may be worsened. I think that’s why my master went to check.”
Carlyx had 2 children. One was nine years old and the other was four years old.
For the young kids, thorough monitoring was important if they weren’t feeling well.
“My master is punctual, so he’ll be right back if you wait here.”
“I suppose so.”
The children weren’t feeling well. Then it was understandable.
‘But this sounds like an excuse….’
Daisy recalled the two children’s figures reflected in the window earlier. She turned away after a short thought.
Tyler frowned as he watched her try to leave the dining room.
“Madam. If you wait a little longer, my master will be here soon.”
“I’ll be back soon, too. Both sides are equally waiting for each other, there should be no problem, right?”
I acted the same way as he did, so he got no complaints, right?
If he were to refute this, it would be a disgrace to the Marquis.
“It’s because I’m uncomfortable with my clothes. Since I’m about to meet my beloved husband, at least I should dress comfortably. I’ll be right back, so tell him that.”
Daisy slightly lifted up the hem of her dress that was layered with ruffles and put it down.
Tyler’s eyes touched her heavy-looking clothes.
“Then I’ll provide you a maid. Sally, say hello.”
A woman stepped out at Tyler’s call.
“Greetings, madam. The master has filled madam’s dress room with some clothes for this season. I’m sure there’ll be comfortable clothes for you.”
“I don’t need it.”
“Pardon?”
“I don’t need you yet.”
Daisy turned her body calmly and glanced at May.
Come on. Why aren’t you coming out?
May, who coughed when she received my signal, approached me cheerfully.
“I’ll help you dress up, madam.”
“I’m usually shy and uncomfortable around strangers, so I need my people.”
Even though that wasn’t true at all.
“I see.”
I could feel Tyler was dumbfounded, unlike his calm tone and expression. Now, it wasn’t just a speculation, but conviction.
‘You don’t seem to like me.’
Although Carlyx was the Marquis and her original status was lower than him, they were married now.
He was more likely to leave for a war, and she would be the only one left in the mansion.
‘Everyone knows that the Parisian Empire is in a flourishing state.’
Even if she had nobody in this mansion, she needed to have the power to choose someone among them.
‘I can’t back down.’
Even if I was nervous or scared, I had to hide my feelings.
To change this place, I had to become someone who was equal to Carlyx.
‘No matter what comes your way, be bold.’
Daisy left first and May, who was notified of the dress room’s location, immediately followed.
Step-! Step-!
As I walked through the empty hallway, someone’s face came into my view.
Carlyx, who stumbled on her, calmly stopped in front of her.
“Where are you going?”
“I’m going to the dressing room to change because my clothes are uncomfortable.”
“I’m sorry for being late. But it would be better to change your clothes after the meal.”
“If you were me, would you be able to eat comfortably in these clothes?”
Daisy shook the hem of the dress roughly on purpose. The heavy frills swayed rigorously.
In that short moment, Carlyx frowned, but he quickly returned to his usual expression.
“I think it looks okay.”
“You mean this?”
Daisy’s gesture of shaking the frill became more aggressive. Now, it was not shaped like an ordinary wing, but a wing of a chicken chased by its owner.
And if he denied it again, I was ready to change clothes with him.
“…Do you know how long it will take then?”
“Yes. But why?”
Carlyx took out his watch and checked the time. He turned his head and looked at the shadow on the end of the hallway.
It seemed like he was estimating the time needed to change clothes.
Then Carlyx spoke in a dull voice.
“Then I thought I’d spend more time with my kids. I’ll be back at the appointed time.”
There was no emotion in his slow gaze directed towards her.
“Then let’s be punctual. I’ll be waiting for you before the appointed time.”
It wasn’t warm, but it wasn’t very cold either.
“Let’s do that, then.”
“Can I come back in about half an hour later?”
“No, five minutes earlier than that. Come back in 25 minutes.”
“It’s about two minutes to get to the dressing room. Since you said you want to change your clothes comfortably, it will take about 30 minutes. If you added another 2 minutes to reach the dining room, it’ll be 35 minutes in total.”
His articulation and voice were as straightforward as his appearance.
Dressed neatly, dull eyes, and overly polite manners.
Even though he was an illegitimate child mixed with blood from another empire, I seemed to know why the rumors about his appearance spread across families.
He wasn’t her taste, but it didn’t mean he wasn’t someone else’s taste.
‘He is not saying anything wrong. Damn, how unlucky.’
Daisy, with a smile, gently spoke.
“I don’t want to be stood up again. Who knows, right?”
“Yes, that’s my fault, so I’ll do what you want. Then, I’ll see you later.”
Step-!
He bowed his head and turned his back as if he had waited.
We went in the same direction, but he didn’t give me room to walk together.
That was how much he was like a knife.
(T/L: This novel uses different POVs at once. Sometimes it is told in third person, while sometimes it is told in daisy’s or carlyx’s perspective without any divider. So the inconsistency is intended.)