Chapter 3
Splash!
The icy sensation splashing across her face made Kanna’s eyes snap open.
“Miss, why are you still lying there? Hurry up and get up!”
Still half-asleep, Kanna blinked in confusion.
The first things she saw were a high, lavishly decorated ceiling and a white silk canopy draped over the bed.
So I really came back.
This wasn’t Korea.
It was the bedroom of the Valentino Ducal Estate.
Damn it.
But… what just got poured all over my face?
“Miss! I said get up! Can’t you hear me?”
So it was her.
Kanna spotted a maid standing beside the bed, holding a flower vase.
Immediately, she understood what had happened.
For years, this maid had woken Kanna—or rather, Joo-hwa—by dumping water from a vase over her face, yanking away her blankets, or even slapping her across the cheek.
Joo-hwa had endured it all without resistance.
All because she wanted to leave a good impression on the duke.
The maid had served the Valentino family for many years, and Joo-hwa had been afraid that upsetting her would lead to nasty rumors spreading throughout the estate.
So she endured.
Again and again.
Lee Joo-hwa… you really were too kind.
Wiping the water from her face, Kanna looked at the maid.
“What’s your name?”
Caught off guard, the maid flinched.
Of course, I already know it.
According to Joo-hwa’s memories, the woman’s name was Mary.
She was around forty years old and had faithfully served the Valentino household for decades, earning everyone’s trust.
“My name is Mary Goldian, Miss. Have you suddenly forgotten? Is something wrong with your head?”
Mary answered proudly before immediately barking orders again.
“Enough nonsense! Hurry up! It’s time to go pay your respects to Madam!”
Pay her respects…
A violent headache suddenly split through Kanna’s skull.
Right.
I’d forgotten.
The current Duke Sylvien’s stepmother—
Josephine—
lived in this mansion.
She demanded that Kanna, her daughter-in-law, greet her three times every day.
Morning.
Noon.
And evening.
This is insane.
Not only would this never happen in Korea—even in this world, it’s absurd.
Yet Joo-hwa had faithfully obeyed.
She’d believed that one day, Sylvien would finally notice her devotion.
Kanna had no intention of continuing that nonsense.
“I’m not going.”
“…Excuse me?”
“I said I’m not going. To hell with those greeting rituals.”
“M-Miss! What are you saying?!”
“Who are you calling ‘Miss’?”
Kanna’s voice turned icy.
“I am the Duchess of Valentino and the mistress of this estate. Address me as Madam.”
Mary froze.
She looked as though she doubted her own ears.
The Kanna she knew was always smiling awkwardly, desperately trying to earn everyone’s affection.
This…
Was someone entirely different.
Did she eat something strange?
But after only a moment, the corners of Mary’s lips curled upward.
So the little noblewoman wants to act like a real aristocrat now.
How laughable.
No one regarded Kanna as a true noble.
Who was Kanna, after all?
A duchess in title only.
Her own husband, the Duke of Valentino, treated her as though she didn’t exist.
And that wasn’t all.
Kanna possessed black hair and black eyes—
The colors of the Black Mist.
Long ago, a mysterious Black Mist had suddenly appeared and swallowed the entire southern continent, reducing it to ruin.
Because she shared its ominous colors, Kanna had been ostracized since childhood.
Even her own family had treated her like filth.
“The mistress of this estate is Lady Josephine. She’s the only ‘Madam’ I’ll ever recognize.”
Normally…
Kanna would simply laugh awkwardly and scratch her head after such an insult.
Just as she had for years.
Sure enough…
She said nothing.
Instead…
She slowly extended her hand.
“Give it to me.”
“…What?”
“The vase.”
“There should still be water inside.”
Without waiting for permission, Kanna snatched the vase from Mary’s hands.
She glanced inside.
Then—
Splash!
“You insolent little servant.”
Drip.
Drip.
Water streamed down Mary’s stunned face.
Though she was completely soaked…
She couldn’t even process what had just happened.
She simply couldn’t believe it.
“You clearly need to be taught a lesson.”
Kanna turned toward another maid watching nervously from the doorway.
“You.”
“Go bring me a switch.”
The maid froze in terror.
Kanna immediately raised her voice.
“What are you standing there for?”
“Do you want to be whipped too?”
“If you don’t bring it right now, you’ll be first.”
“Y-Yes!”
A few moments later…
The maid returned with a thin bamboo switch.
Kanna accepted it before looking back at the still-frozen Mary.
“Roll up your skirt.”
Mary’s face instantly turned deathly pale.
How dare Kanna…
How dare someone like her treat me this way?
“What are you doing, Miss? Have you forgotten who I am?”
“…”
“I’m trusted by Madam Josephine! I’ve served this household for years—”
“You’re a maid.”
Kanna cut her off coldly.
“A deranged maid who dared throw water in her master’s face.”
“Th-That…”
“And I am the mistress of this house.”
“The Duchess of Valentino.”
“I have every right to discipline a servant like you.”
“So.”
“Roll it up.”
“B-But…”
“If you refuse…”
“I’ll whip every maid in this mansion.”
“And then I’ll hold the head butler responsible for failing to train the staff.”
“…!”
“So.”
“Will you take the punishment alone?”
“Or shall every servant in this estate share it with you?”
Mary’s face lost all color.
Even the maid who had brought the switch looked frightened.
Finally…
With trembling hands…
Mary lifted the hem of her skirt.
She’s terrified.
Well, naturally.
The woman she’d always bullied had suddenly become someone completely different.
Kanna tilted her head.
Maybe this is enough.
Perhaps I should let her off…
Then…
Her mother’s voice echoed in her mind.
“When you punish someone, Joo-hwa, make sure the lesson is unforgettable.”
Mother had never given bad advice.
So…
Kanna raised the switch.
Crack!
“Ahhh!”
One strike.
But an exceptionally hard one.
A vivid red welt instantly appeared across Mary’s calf, making her stagger.
The first blow delivered shock.
Crack!
“AAAH!”
The second delivered pain.
And by the third…
“Please! Forgive me!”
She begged.
As Mary rubbed her hands together desperately and pleaded for mercy, Kanna lowered the switch.
“You say you’re sorry?”
“For what?”
“I-I’m sorry for throwing water on you…”
Kanna smiled.
“That’s not all.”
“You’ve slapped me awake before, haven’t you?”
Lee Joo-hwa…
You smiled through everything.
That’s why everyone looked down on you.
No matter how badly people treated her…
She only smiled.
Even a worm wriggles when stepped on.
But Joo-hwa…
Never resisted.
She simply endured.
Just like…
The old Kanna.
The girl she’d been before possessing Joo-hwa.
“I-I’m sorry, Miss.”
“…Miss?”
Kanna tilted her head.
Mary shuddered.
“N-No!”
“Madam!”
“I’m sorry, Madam!”
“I’ll never do it again!”
“You’d better not.”
“Because next time…”
“It won’t end with only three strikes.”
Kanna tossed the switch aside.
“You may leave.”
Sniffling, Mary slowly got to her feet.
She hunched her shoulders, pretending to look defeated.
But Kanna could feel the burning hatred radiating from her back.
Well…
One beating was never going to change someone like her.
After everyone left…
Kanna let out a long sigh and sat down on the sofa.
Joo-hwa…
Lee Joo-hwa…
I made your life into something wonderful.
She had gotten into a prestigious university.
Become a licensed doctor of Korean medicine.
Even found her the perfect boyfriend.
And you…
You’ve managed to make my life even worse than it already was.
