IPWDP 12

Episode 12

The entire mansion had changed.
The uncle and aunt who became the new Duke and Duchess replaced everything inside the ducal estate — from its decorations to its servants.
Ephelia couldn’t say a word against it. The Duke was now her uncle, after all.

The dining table where she used to eat every day with her parents and brothers was now occupied by her uncle’s family — her uncle, cousin brother, and cousin sister.

“I’m done eating.”
“Why are you stopping already, Seluna?”
The aunt, who had taken her mother’s seat, asked her daughter kindly.
“It just doesn’t taste good.”
“Then we should replace the chef.”
“Right. For a chef serving a ducal family, his skills are disappointing.”

Ephelia remembered when her uncle’s family used to visit.
Back then, they would praise the same chef and enjoy every meal.
Now, they changed their tune and used it as an excuse to replace people one by one.

“Even if the food were better, you should lose some weight. You don’t want to roll around like a pig.”
“You should lose weight first, brother!”

Seluna snapped at her brother Hexi’s sneer.
Her uncle lightly scolded them, and her aunt intervened to stop the quarrel.
Throughout the entire meal, no one spoke to Ephelia.
No one asked if she was eating well, if she liked the food — no one cared.
Among the harmonious family of four, she had no place.

‘Our baby, you need to eat your vegetables too.’

It was as if she could hear Keyran’s teasing voice again.
Ephelia lifted her fork, glancing around instinctively — but of course, he wasn’t there.
He used to say that whenever she tried to secretly push vegetables aside.
And she would always shout back, “I’m not a baby!”
She used to hate that word so much — she wasn’t a baby anymore, yet he always teased her until she cried.
Now, that voice — that word — she missed it terribly.

Keyran… I miss you. Where are you? You can call me a baby, I won’t get mad… brother.

She missed her father, her mother, Meristo, and Keyran — everyone.

I’ll eat my vegetables. I promise. Just come back.

Keyran, who always teased her about vegetables but gave her his pudding afterward — she missed him the most.

Even when she barely touched her meals, no one cared.
All the current servants of the mansion had come from her uncle’s old count’s estate.
They were loyal to their real master — the new Duke — not to the former Duke’s orphaned daughter.

After finishing her meal quietly, Ephelia returned to her room.
As she passed through the hall, sharp voices reached her ears.

“Ugh, can you believe it? The fallen young lady’s turned into a maid.”
“Yeah, she’s serving Lady Seluna now. Said the new Duchess needed more maids for her daughter.”
“That unlucky girl just got even more pathetic.”
“I’d rather work in the kitchen or laundry than attend to her. The real lady and her mother would notice.”
“Exactly.”

It was her uncle and aunt who had dismissed all the maids that once cared for Ephelia, and the new head maid had reassigned staff under the Duchess’s orders.
No one dared speak ill of their superiors — so the servants turned their resentment toward Ephelia, the powerless girl who couldn’t fight back.

It was the first time she had ever faced such cold contempt.
She didn’t know how to respond.
She simply stood by the door in silence.

The maids froze when they saw her.

“L–Lady Ephelia!”

Without a word, she entered her room.
The maids exhaled in relief.

“What do we do now?”
“Should we apologize?”
“Apologize? For what?”
“What if she reports us and we get fired?”
“Think about it — what can she even do to us?”
“But what if she tells the head maid…”
“She wouldn’t dare. No one here’s on her side anymore. She’s just a nuisance.”

They were right.
Even if they badmouthed her, nothing would happen.
This mansion was no longer her home.
The real lady of the house was Seluna.

That thought emboldened them.
And they felt a twisted pleasure — the once-precious ducal girl could no longer even defend herself.

Soon, rumors spread quietly:

“She doesn’t talk much.”
“I think she’s a bit slow.”

No one stopped the gossip.
Ephelia stopped leaving her room altogether.
Her bedroom — the only place unchanged — became her entire world.

The once-bright, affectionate girl slowly lost her smile.
It was only natural.
For anyone, losing everything overnight would be unbearable.

But there was one person who brought her comfort — Regios.

When the Crown Prince visited the ducal estate, her uncle’s family rushed to greet him.

“It is an honor that Your Highness graces our home.”
“Forgive me for arriving unannounced.”
“Oh, not at all, Your Highness.”
“Where is Ephelia?”

“Ah… a maid has gone to inform her of your visit, but it seems she has not yet delivered the message.”

Of course, they had done it on purpose.
They didn’t want the Crown Prince meeting Ephelia before they could make an impression.
No one expected him to ask for her first.
The Duke reluctantly gestured for a servant to fetch her.

“Regios, it’s such an honor to finally meet you…”

Seluna blushed as she addressed him.
Regios turned his gaze toward her.

“Lady.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness!”
“I don’t recall granting you permission to call me by name. Am I mistaken?”
“Ah— I-I’m sorry!”

Ephelia had been allowed to call him by name — by his own permission.

“You’re still young, so I’ll overlook this once.”
“T-thank you.”
“Your maid is late. I’ll go see her myself — send a servant to guide me.”
“Ah, perhaps she’ll be here soon, if Your Highness would only wait a moment—”
“No. I’ll go.”

There was no arguing with his tone.
Regios followed the servant — who, following the Duke’s silent orders, stalled for time — until he finally reached Ephelia’s room.

Just as he was about to knock, the door opened.

“Ephelia.”
“…Regios.”
“Why are you so thin? Are you eating properly?”

Those warm words made her clench her fists tightly.
No one had asked her that since her family’s death.

“Ephelia, would you like some sweets?”

She realized she hadn’t had anything sweet in a long time.
She nodded.

“Come on, let’s go inside. I brought your favorites from the palace.”
“Mm.”

After ordering tea, Regios sat her on the sofa and personally prepared the desserts, feeding her gently — just like Meristo used to do.

“Regios.”
“Yes?”
“…I miss Keyran.”
“That… I can’t help with. I’m sorry. But I’m here, Ephelia.”

He was the only one who hadn’t changed.
Ephelia finally lifted her head to look at him.

“You’ll stay with me?”
“Yes. I’ll always be by your side.”
“Even if… I’m nothing to you?”
“You’re not nothing. You’re the most precious to me.”

Those words pierced her heart — warm enough to melt the ice around it.
Tears welled up and spilled over.

“Regios… uuh…”

For the first time, she cried — truly cried.
Until now, she hadn’t been able to accept what had happened.

Regios held her small, trembling body and patted her back gently.
He felt like her father, her mother, her brothers — all at once.
He treated her exactly as he always had before everything changed.

But Regios was the Crown Prince, and Ephelia was only his childhood friend.
He could comfort her, but he couldn’t always be there.
As he grew busier, his visits became less frequent — though he never forgot her completely.

Her uncle’s family was also pleased with his visits.
They used them as an excuse to introduce their children to the Crown Prince.

Then, one day—

A maid attending Ephelia’s bath screamed.
While roughly scrubbing her small body, she had noticed something unusual.

“L-Lady Ephelia’s body… there’s a mark!”

A symbol had appeared over Ephelia’s heart — the Mark of Destiny.
It meant that Ephelia now had a fated partner.