IDRID | CH 03

Episode 3

Eleanore’s mother-in-law, Katarina, was a cruel woman who loved to torment her for ridiculous reasons.

— “Didn’t I tell you to greet me every morning? How dare you sleep in and ignore your elders!”

Sometimes, Katarina even barged into Eleanore’s room before dawn.

That morning, she had dragged Eleanore out of bed while she was half-asleep—and slapped her hard across the face.

‘Even now, I can still feel the burn on my left cheek from that day.’

Eleanore gently touched her cheek with cold eyes.

Now, she was sitting in her room again, calmly sipping tea and making plans for the days ahead.

‘And worse than Katarina… was her daughter, Simone.’

If Katarina picked fights over things that never happened, Simone attacked her over the smallest mistakes—never letting go.

— “Sister, didn’t you say you’d fix this account error yourself? Then why isn’t the money covered yet? Are you going to use your dowry to pay for it?”

Usually, Eleanore wasn’t even allowed to handle household matters, but whenever there was a problem, Simone always dragged her in to take the blame.

— “Sister, about this tea party—you invited Lady Grace and Countess Snow, right? How could you invite two women who dislike each other to the same party? Are you out of your mind?”

Even when it wasn’t a big deal, Simone would yell and make it one.

— “Why would my brother marry a brainless woman like you—someone who only knows how to dress up pretty?”

Simone’s constant words crushed Eleanore’s confidence over and over again.

‘She was insane… truly insane.’

In her past life, Eleanore had lost all self-worth because of Simone and ended up completely under her control.

But after dying such a miserable death, her view of the world had completely changed.

“Miss, would you like more tea?”

The maid’s quiet voice broke her thoughts.

Eleanore looked down and saw her empty cup.

“Yes, please. Fill it for me.”

She nodded gracefully and handed over the cup.

‘This maid’s name is Becky. She was newly hired when I came to the Duke’s castle.’

Eleanore watched Becky carefully as she poured the tea.

‘If I’m going to make allies, I should start with someone like her—new servants who haven’t yet taken sides.’

The new servants were all chosen by the head butler, Hekit, who was known for being fair and neutral. That was a relief.

‘But I can’t forget that I already “restarted” once because I shouted at her earlier…’

Eleanore sipped her tea, lost in thought.

All those strange glowing words she had seen earlier flashed through her mind.

‘If my guess is right, that “restart” system must be…’

She set down her cup quietly.

“Oh? Miss? You’ve already finished?”

Becky blinked in surprise, seeing the cup still half full.

“Yes, I’m done. I have somewhere to go—come with me.”

Eleanore stood up elegantly.

Becky stared, momentarily caught by her graceful movements, then quickly bowed her head.

“W-where are we going, my lady?”

“To the Duchess Dowager’s quarters.”

“W-what?”

Becky’s eyes went wide in shock. Her lips moved, as if she wanted to stop her, but no words came out.

Eleanore just smiled faintly.

‘Of course she’s surprised. By now, during my engagement period, I’m usually being bullied endlessly by Katarina and Simone.’

While Walter (her fiancé) was away from the castle, the mother and daughter made it their mission to “train” Eleanore—tormenting her under the excuse of teaching her noble manners.

After that, even when Walter returned, Eleanore had been too broken to ever fight back.

‘But this time… I’m going to end that vicious cycle.’

Eleanore’s purple eyes gleamed coldly.

With her pale skin and dark hair, her expression looked almost ghostly.

“Hiccup!”

Becky flinched and hiccupped in fear, covering her mouth quickly.

“There’s no time to explain. Just follow me.”

Eleanore gestured with a graceful hand.

Becky, still trembling, nodded and followed silently.

***

“Is that her? The one who’s supposed to be our lady?”

“They say she’s the Count of Vianello’s precious daughter. Actually born outside, but adopted into the family later.”

“Shh! She might hear you!”

As they walked down the hall, whispers filled the air.

‘They pretend to whisper, but they want me to hear.’

Eleanore smiled bitterly.

Except for Becky and a few new servants, everyone in the castle was loyal to Katarina or Simone.

They all looked down on Eleanore, treating her like a fake future duchess who didn’t deserve her title.

‘Looks like I’ll have to change the atmosphere in this place too.’

At first, she only planned to handle Katarina and Simone.

But now, seeing how everyone else behaved, she realized that wouldn’t be enough.

‘It’s not enough to just make them stop looking down on me. I have to make them respect me. If I don’t establish myself as the real lady of this house, they’ll crush me again.’

If she could share a bedroom with Walter, things might change…

But—

‘That hateful man would never welcome me. He’ll just reject me again for the sake of that so-called “saint.”’

Eleanore’s face turned cold as ice again, and poor Becky turned pale just from looking at her expression.

They walked a little farther until finally, they reached Katarina’s quarters.

“Wait, this is the Duchess Dowager’s wing.”

An older woman blocked their way.

Eleanore tilted her head gracefully.

“Are you trying to stop me?”

Her calm, confident voice startled the woman—it was the head maid of the duchess’s household.

‘Eleanore Vianello… speaking like that? Since when?’

The head maid remembered her as an arrogant, foolish girl—someone who puffed herself up with pride but had no real strength or wit.

That was why she had never opposed Katarina’s plan to bully her.

But now… something was different.

‘She looks… calmer. Like someone who’s faced death and come back.’

The head maid was still studying her when Eleanora smiled sweetly and said,

“I mean no offense. I simply wish to greet the Duchess Dowager, as is my duty. Would you kindly step aside?”

The head maid hesitated.

‘So now she’s trying to curry favor with the Duchess instead of fighting back? How naïve.’

In her mind, the head maid thought Eleanora’s strategy was pathetic.

‘If peace were possible, Lady Katarina would’ve offered it long ago. There can’t be two mistresses in one castle.’

To her, Eleanore’s very existence was a threat to Katarina’s authority.

‘Well, maybe it’s better to let her see for herself how hopeless it is.’

The head maid bowed slightly.

“Very well, I’ll inform the Duchess Dowager.”

She turned to go—but Eleanore’s calm voice stopped her.

“Wait.”

“…Yes?”

The head maid turned back, puzzled.

Eleanora’s lips curved into a beautiful, icy smile.

“I’ll go with you.”