“Oh my, it looks like you really like Lionel.”
Riv couldn’t answer. Sophia seemed to be enjoying this moment.
“What kind of tea do you like, Riv?”
Sophia continued to grin as she took out fine tea leaves and carefully brewed tea. Just in time, Lionel and André returned.
Their escort belatedly brought the gift that Riv had prepared for the Earl and Countess of Murden.
“I prepared presents for you because you invited us. I don’t know if you’ll like them.”
Sophia and André opened the presents she had prepared for them and their children.
Exotic flowers from the greenhouse, as well as snacks and dolls for the children. And the last basket had a pure white puppy.
“Wow.”
Sophia had forgotten their previous conversation and hugged the puppy.
“The children will be really happy to see it.”
Riv nodded her head, recalling Sophia’s children.
“It’s nap time right now, but they’ll come down once they wake up. Does Riv like children?”
The two men sat quietly next to Riv and Sophia, listening to them.
“I like children, but it’s been a long time since I’ve seen them up close.”
Sophia seemed to be more interested in her words than the puppy now. She looked at Lionel and Riv alternately.
“Riv is married to Lionel, so she will soon have a pretty child. Right, Lionel?”
Lionel replied at once.
“I plan to enjoy our honeymoon for the time being.”
There was a brief silence at Lionel’s response.
After the awkward silence, André opened his mouth.
“So, are the newlyweds enjoying themselves?”
“Yes.”
“……”
Riv was somehow so embarrassed she couldn’t speak, and she felt like she couldn’t breathe. It seemed to be the same with the Murdens as well.
“I didn’t know Lionel could make a joke like this.”
At Lionel’s words, Sophia smiled proudly.
Riv imagined a child of their own.
He would be a pretty and clever child. If he resembled her and Lionel, he would be tall. Someone like her who died and came back to life, could she have a future after her death date?
Even if she couldn’t have it, she wanted to dream.
Riv felt a little lost, but she quickly managed her expression. Just around the same time, Lionel and André fell into serious conversation again. They talked about swordsmanship and famous knights, topics which Riv knew nothing about.
Sophia looked at them and said.
“It’s been a long time, but I think it’s really nice to see the two of you together. I like that Lionel looks brighter too.”
“Does he look brighter?”
Riv tilted her head, unable to see the change in Lionel.
Casual conversations continued after that, but Sophia did not question Riv’s past at all.
She wondered if Sophia didn’t know that Riv was Madame Katana.
The two discussed the name of the dog and various other things.
“Actually, Lionel asked me to be Riv’s friend. I told him I’d think about it.”
Sophia took Riv’s hand and squeezed it.
“I like Riv more than I thought I would. Shall we be friends?”
Riv hesitated for a moment at her offer.
“Do you need time to think?”
She was grateful for Sophia’s kindness, but she was afraid that she would be disappointed once she got to know her. Riv said frankly.
“Sophia, I was Madame Katana.”
Sophia tilted her head.
“What’s wrong with that?”
Riv was cautious, but there was no concern in Sophia’s innocent eyes. Rather, Riv was curious.
“Haven’t you heard of Madame Katana?”
“I’ve heard of her. It’s like something from a horror story.”
“Aren’t you uncomfortable?”
Rumors about Madame Katana were endless.
She was a witch or an ugly woman who brought misfortune and invoked curses. If you had such a symbol of unhappiness by your side, you would surely become miserable.
Sophia didn’t seem to mind.
“If Madame Katana really created misfortune, would Queen Selina and Princess Marianne keep her by their side?”
“……”
“They try to keep useful people by their side through vicious rumors.”
Riv paused at the strange realization. She had never thought like Sophia.
“I, I.”
Before she could clear her confused mind, Sophia spoke again.
“Isn’t it strange that they had you put on such a terrible disguise? Weren’t they trying to distort your appearance?”
It was blunt, but Riv felt comforted.
The Duke’s maids kept a close eye on Riv’s mood and refrained from talking about Madame Katana. They certainly never openly cursed at the Royal Family.
“Sophia, the Royal Family doesn’t like me.”
“I know that.”
“If you’re friends with me, rumors about Sophia may circulate.”
“Riv? Do you not wish to be my friend for that reason?”
Sophia didn’t seem to understand. Riv was shocked as Sophia seemed to be immune to the Royal Family’s influence.
“Do you really want to be my friend, Sophia?”
“Riv, you can count on me because you’re Lionel’s beloved wife.”
“Is it that easy?”
Sophia’s hands were smaller than Riv’s, but they were warm.
The warmth seemed to melt Riv’s frozen heart.
“Let’s be friends.”
Riv nodded her head at that simple sentence.
At the dinner that followed, it was a bit noisy because the children were also there.
It included the two couples and the Murden children, their nanny, and servants. After the children had eaten, they said they would eat dessert in their rooms and disappeared. In truth, they were going to see the puppy. Sophia gracefully ate a madeleine* for dessert.
[*E/N: a madeleine is a small sponge cake, usually baked in a shell shape]
“I want to name the dog Lionel.”
“What?”
Lionel was furious but Sophia casually turned and looked at Riv.
“Oh, Riv, there’s a salon meeting I’m participating in. Would you like to come with me?”
“Is it a gathering of wives?”
Sophia nodded her head. Through this conversation, the men were alienated.
“I don’t know if you’ve heard from Lionel, but I’m not knowledgeable in culture or etiquette. If you teach me, I will introduce you to my acquaintances. Wouldn’t it be better if I helped you out, since you have to join society soon?”
Riv was cautious.
“Wouldn’t I be a nuisance?”
“Aren’t we friends? Riv, let’s help each other out.”
Riv looked like she was a newborn baby. Like someone stepping out into the world for the first time. Riv had too many things to do in this new world.
But it felt good, as the gentle atmosphere from Sophia seemed to transfer to Riv as well.
Riv came to like Sophia, a woman who smiled sincerely at her.
After the Duke and Duchess of Sentoren left, Sophia and André watched them for a long time until their carriage disappeared.
“What do you think of the Duchess?”
At André’s words, Sophia tilted her head and grinned.
“She seems like a good person. She’s completely different from the rumors, André.”
“She seems to get along quite well with Lionel.”
They recalled the rumors about the monstrous Madame Katana. A bringer of misfortune with an ugly appearance. A woman who seduced the Duke of Sentoren and brought the lovely Princess Marianne heartbreak. The rumors and the real Riv did not match.
“The rumors are unbelievable.”
André had noticed that Lionel’s gaze was always on Riv. A smile did not disappear from the corner of Lionel’s lips when he looked at her.
“If Lionel had married Princess Marianne, he wouldn’t have been this happy.”
Sophia agreed. André said,
“Lionel looks happy now.”
It was dark outside as their carriage returned.
Only the street lamps on the side of the road were emitting a faint light.
“Did you enjoy today?”
Lionel and Riv sat close together as if they shared one body. Riv liked this position of sharing each other’s body warmth.
“Yes.”
“As long as you had fun.”
Riv suddenly had a question. It hadn’t been long since Riv and Lionel got together.
Nevertheless, this man trusted her completely.
“Why do you trust me, Lionel?”
“It’s just a gut feeling.”
His answer was simple, but she was skeptical. Instead of questioning him further, Riv thought of Earl Murden’s family.
The two, who became a couple after being childhood friends, seemed to understand and love each other perfectly.
‘I want to be like them.’
She wanted to have as many children who looked like Lionel as possible. But she was a witch and came here when time was turned back. The hours that Riv could enjoy were limited. The time she had left was too short.
‘I want to do my best to survive.’
For now, it was enough just to feel Lionel’s warmth.
Riv pretended to sleep on Lionel’s shoulder.
Lionel stayed still as he embraced Riv, who was sleeping.
Riv’s breathing, leaning against him, became calm.
“……”
The woman who became his wife. There were times when he thought she looked very distant, even though he was next to her and holding her body.
Her body was here, but her spirit seemed to be very far away.
“Riv.”
Lionel stared at Riv with a serious expression.
This woman became his, but he felt that she was hiding something from him.
She was clumsy, therefore it was obvious that she had secrets. A secret in which Princess Marianne and Queen Selina might be involved.
‘Does this woman know a royal secret? What could it be?’
Having lived as a close maid to the Royal Family for nearly 7 years, it was strange that he assumed Riv was unaware of their private lives.
Lionel ironed out the frown between her eyebrows with his thumb. They were getting closer to the mansion.
“Riv, Riv.”
Lionel carefully woke his wife up. She opened her eyes.