Chapter 9
So this was the kind of moment when people said, “Just looking at it makes my stomach full.”
Rachel spoke to Liz, who was filling her small mouth and eating with all her effort.
“Chew slowly.”
“Y-yes.”
The tableware placed on a noble’s dining table was not just one or two pieces.
The utensils used were different depending on the type of food.
For Liz, who still did not know how to use them, Rachel had prepared simple food that was easy to eat.
How much suffering had she endured in that house?
Her thin cheeks and skinny arms and legs.
‘Sigh. No matter how many times I think about it, I get angry.’
She had put that woman in prison, but her anger still had not disappeared.
A child had made such an expression.
Familiarity or resignation.
As if it was not a situation that had happened only once or twice.
In the novel, Liz’s childhood, the time before she entered the Duke’s residence, was never mentioned.
She only remembered that she had lived an ordinary life, believing she was a commoner.
That was what Liz had said.
‘But it wasn’t ordinary…….’
If that was ordinary, then it was truly terrifying.
Because it meant the time after that.
The things Liz must have experienced in the world where Rachel did not exist were so horrible that she could not even imagine them.
Clench.
As hatred toward Abigail, the person who caused all those events, rose again, Rachel bit her lips tightly.
Flinch.
Perhaps she had been frightened by Rachel’s expression.
Liz carefully placed down the food she was eating.
“A-ah, it’s nothing. Don’t worry about it and keep eating.”
“……Yes.”
Despite Rachel’s words, Liz looked at her carefully and only picked at her food.
Rachel could tell.
This child had eaten meals while constantly watching other people’s eyes for a long time.
Damn it.
She should have slapped that woman at least once.
After the meal ended.
Rachel left Liz in Bella’s care and returned to her office.
“Marcus, what happened with the items we confiscated?”
“I was actually about to report it to you.”
She looked through the documents Marcus handed her.
“Not bad. Good work.”
He had received 20% more money than expected.
With this amount, there would be no problems operating the Duke’s residence until winter.
Since they had secured enough money, Rachel called Rupert to her office.
“I apologize. I am a little late because I went to wash up.”
“It’s fine. It’s my fault for calling you during training. I called you because I wanted to give you this.”
Rachel handed him a document.
“This is……”
“The former commander of the knights bought a vacation villa in the capital and I sold it. I thought this money would be better used for the knight order.”
“……Thank you!”
Rupert’s blue eyes trembled with emotion.
“I saw it last time. The weapons need to be replaced, and the training grounds also seem like they need repairs. I think this amount should be enough. If it’s still lacking, tell me. I have no intention of saving money when it comes to the knight order.”
“Thank you for taking care of us.”
“No. I should be the one thanking you for staying by my side even after seeing that mess.”
Rupert was an irreplaceable talent.
Thinking that she might have lost him if she had arrived even a little later back then made her heart turn cold.
‘But now I have to go to the Imperial Palace soon. I’m worried.’
There was too much to do.
She had also brought Liz here.
Thinking that she would have to leave the estate in this situation made her heart heavy.
Knock, knock.
“Duchess, it’s Anne!”
“Hmm? Come in.”
“Hoho, everything is ready.”
“Really? Already?”
Rachel stood up immediately, as if she had been waiting for those words.
It was the historic day when Liz entered the Duke’s residence.
Although it was simple, she had prepared a welcoming ceremony.
With an excited heart, Rachel hurried her steps.
Dining room.
A long table decorated with silver candle holders and a vase filled with purple hydrangeas.
On top of it were a pure white strawberry cream cake and desserts that a child would like.
I hope Liz likes it!
Rachel waited for Liz to arrive with a pounding heart.
“Duchess, the young lady has arrived.”
After a while, Bella appeared with Liz.
“You’re here?”
Liz’s eyes widened as she looked at the large cream cake.
“……Cake?”
What was so amazing about it?
Liz could not take her eyes away from the cake.
Seeing those sparkling eyes, shining as if she had discovered a Christmas present, made Rachel’s heart ache.
“Liz.”
Rachel slowly bent down and called her name.
Only then did the child look at her.
Rachel held Liz’s small hand, a hand that looked like it would break if even a little strength was applied.
Fidget, fidget.
Liz could not stay still, as if she did not know what to do with the hand held by Rachel.
She was still unfamiliar and awkward with Rachel.
But she did not seem to dislike it.
Slowly, slowly.
It was okay to come closer.
Rachel looked into those eyes, hoping her sincerity would reach her.
More than anything else, she wanted her feelings to reach Liz.
The heart that loved her and wanted to protect her.
“Hmm.”
Why was her heart trembling so much when she was about to say the words she prepared?
It felt like she was proposing.
“……Liz, thank you for coming to your sister.”
“……”
After staying silent for a moment, transparent tears began flowing down Liz’s cheeks.
Drop, drop.
The tears falling like rain left Rachel, Bella, and Anne unable to say anything.
Because seeing the child silently crying, only her shoulders trembling slightly, hurt their hearts too much.
They could guess the path this child had walked until now.
The fact that there probably had not been even one person who held her hand by her side.
“……Why, did you come, to find Liz, so late?”
Sob, sob.
Hearing Liz’s difficult words mixed with crying, Rachel’s eyes twisted painfully.
“……Your sister was sick for a long time.”
Damn it.
Rachel did not want to use what Abigail had done to this body as an excuse.
But she could not hurt Liz’s heart any further as the child waited for her answer with eyes filled with clear tears.
“I was too sick, so I couldn’t bring Liz here.”
The real owner of this body did not even know Liz existed before she died.
According to the original story, that was what was supposed to happen.
Rachel swallowed that painful truth deep inside her heart and told a small white lie.
A purple carpet and dark green wallpaper.
It was a room that did not suit a child, but after the Duke’s bedroom, this was the largest room in the Duke’s residence.
“Do you like the room?”
Liz tightly pressed her lips together and nodded.
“……It’s warm and big.”
A single sentence containing many stories.
Rachel moved her lips for a moment before carefully speaking.
“Over there……”
No.
No.
Liz had only just stopped crying.
She was afraid that her question might bring back bad memories while the child’s eyes were still wet.
So she changed the subject.
“I’m glad you seem to like it. If you need anything, tell me anytime. Okay?”
After thinking for a moment, Liz shyly moved her lips and pulled on Rachel’s sleeve.
“Liz……”
“Hmm?”
“I heard someone say thank you for the first time.”
“……”
“I also ate cake for the first time. I didn’t know there was something so delicious in the world.”
Liz looked at Rachel with her clear blue eyes containing her reflection.
“I’m happy even now. I don’t want anything more.”
Kind words, pretty clothes, and delicious food.
All of those things were new to you.
Unable to endure the sadness filling her heart, Rachel pulled Liz into her arms.
Holding the small body that came without resistance, she gently kissed her head.
My Liz.
How could you be so pitiful and lovable?
“……But I have something I’m curious about.”
“Hmm?”
On the quiet night where only the sounds of insects could be heard in the distance.
“Why are you being so kind to Liz?”
You still don’t know what kind of child Liz is.
In that silence, Liz’s sharp question pierced Rachel’s heart like a thorn.
Park Ye-an.
A promising child actress.
That was who she was.
At first, she started acting because her parents forced her.
But she quickly fell in love with acting.
Living as someone else, not “herself,” inside the screen was an amazing and fascinating experience.
But liking something did not mean she could do it well.
Sparkle.
Her talent had only shined that much.
Soon, she reached her limit.
‘Anything with Park Ye-an in it is an automatic skipㅋㅋㅋ It’s boring even without watchingㅋㅋㅋ’
‘Who is Park Ye-an? Never heard of herㅋㅋ’
‘Agree. I saw her on the street, but nobody recognized her.’
‘No, but how did you recognize her?’
‘No, Park Ye-an was in my schoolㅋㅋㅋ She always wore a hat and mask, but nobody knew she was a celebrity. It was so funny.’
‘Wowㅋㅋㅋ She’s seriously pitifulㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ’
The child actress who had once received so much love became the target of ridicule when her lack of acting ability was revealed.
Netizens dissected everything about her from head to toe and mocked her.
Her friends laughed behind her back.
Even stars have a lifespan.
Her star’s lifespan had simply been shorter than others.
But the feeling of loss after losing the love and attention she had received was something she could not handle.
Then, as if escaping from reality, she fell into novels.
And there……
She met “you.”
“Look at those clothes. They said she was an illegitimate child, and she truly is vulgar.”
“She must be desperate to catch His Majesty’s attention. But do you really think His Majesty would even look at her?”
Click, click.
Liz stopped in front of the young ladies who were mocking her loudly as she crossed the ballroom.
Smile.
Her lips curved like a bright crescent moon.
But her blue eyes were cold and sharp like a snowstorm raging across a frozen field.
Flinch.
“Why? D-did we say something wrong?”
The women stepped back with guilty expressions after meeting Liz’s gaze.
“No. That’s not it.”
Liz approached them.
“Acting refined while worrying about your reputation only means you are not desperate enough.”
She continued in a lazy voice.
“When I want something, I don’t care about reputation. Of course, I know what things I should and should not hide.”
So, ladies.
Do not even let your shadows appear before His Majesty.
Because you do not want to disappear without anyone knowing.
Liz looked at the pale-faced young ladies and smiled beautifully.
Her parents who blamed each other for her failure and separated.
People who changed their attitudes the moment she fell to the bottom.
When she became disappointed and frustrated with herself, realizing she was nothing more than a supporting character always hidden behind the main character.
She saw a supporting character who shined brighter than the main character.
“……Liz. You don’t know this, but you are a star to me.”
Unlike Rachel, Liz was strong.
She was free from the judgment of others.
The mocking gazes directed at Rachel.
While traveling together with Liz, she was able to forget all of those things.
Life only gains meaning when you have someone to love.
And the person who became the meaning of her life was Liz.
Rachel hugged Liz, who tilted her head because she did not understand the meaning of those words.
Even when she knew all her efforts were meaningless.
Even when she knew Liz’s path was heading toward tragedy.
She supported her and walked together with her.
She endured her long, endless loneliness that way.
So this time, it was her turn.
This time, it was Rachel’s turn to stay by this child’s side and walk the long journey together.
