Warning: Reader discretion advised. This chapter contains scenes of abuse.
"Miss, it's time for breakfast."
By the time Julia finished dressing my hair up, another maid approached and informed me it was time to go for breakfast.
I got up from my vanity chair and slowly started moving to the dining hall. When I arrived, there were already familiar people sitting at the table.
"You're late."
My father said in a grumpy voice.
I gave a brief curtsy to Father before I went to my seat.
"Father, you should have scolded her. How rude of her to keep Father waiting.” In a high-pitched tone, Cecilia complained to their father.
When I turned and looked at Cecilia, she smirked and jeered at me.
"If you keep that up, you'll remain the embarrassment of the family even after you get married.”
When I tried to ignore her and sit down, Cecilia said something that upset me.
It wasn't a day or two that Cecilia sarcastically pointed out my behavior, but today, one word Cecilia spouted was particularly annoying.
"Married?"
"Enough. Sit down."
When I tried to ask back in disbelief, my father urged me to sit down without hiding any signs of irritation on his face.
I had no choice but to concede. As soon as I took my seat, the servants ushered in the meals as if they're waiting just for me to take a seat.
"Diana, I will proceed with the marriage of you and Earl of Theodore."
Even though it was a marriage with my life depended on it, my father made a one-sided decision.
“…….”
Instead of answering, I looked up at my father.
Even when my mother was alive, he had been so kind, which I doubt he'll ever be again. But now Father was worse than everyone else after my mother died and he succeeded as the Duke.
"You're not going to live for long anyway, so I'd rather you go than spending your remaining days here."
"... Does that mean they originally asked for Cecilia?"
“…….”
My father had no answer.
If he speaks up and says no, I wouldn't have been feeling so disappointed right now.
I already knew the fact that I'm supposed to get married. Still, couldn't you at least say the words that will console me?
Even if I'm not your own daughter, how could you sell me off so easily?
Many thoughts disturbed my mind.
I've been foolishly holding on to some remnants of imaginary affection and lingering regret. But now I had to admit it.
Father doesn't love me.
On top of that, he was trying to sell me off at a high price without telling the other party of my illness.
"Father."
"I won't listen to your complaints."
My father sternly said with a frown, assuming I was trying to complain.
He needed not to be upset since I wouldn't raise any protest because I already resigned myself to be sent off to Earl Theodore.
Should I say that I'm glad you're given me away, or I'm glad of this misfortune since it could've been much worse?
When I thought about this, I laughed.
"Have you ever tried to find a cure for my illness?”
Have you ever tried to save me? It was a statement that I could never ask of Father.
"Diana!"
Father shouted my name and squeezed the wine glass hard. He was about to throw it at me, so I closed my eyes tightly and shrank.
I'm going to die anyway, so for the sake of the family, you want me to go and marry someone I don't even love?
Have you even think of another way to cure me in the first place?
Perhaps you've been waiting for the day I die.
Of course, it was true that it was difficult to find a cure for my illness.
However, there was a wide gap between giving up and trying just because it was difficult to find it.
"If you're going to say something useless, go back to your room!"
Crash.
There was a sharp noise of breaking glass. At the same time, my cheeks began to burn.
I slowly opened my eyes, exhaling the breath I had held back. Not far from me, a broken wine glass was scattered in rubble.
When I raised my trembling hand and touched my cheek, a warm liquid touched the tip of my finger.
There was no need to check what it was.
Without a word, I slowly raised my head to check my surroundings.
Father was no longer looking at me.
Cecilia, my step-sister, was desperately holding back her laughter.
As I was looking at the blood on the tip of my finger, I tasted the bitterness in my mouth at the same time.
It was quite funny thinking about what was I trying to survive for all this time.
I raised my hands to cover my face. Strangely enough, I kept laughing.
After trying to calm down for a long while, I managed to compose myself and raise my head.
"I see. I'll do it. I'll get married."
If marriage is the only way out of this disgusting house, I'd be happy to accept it.
A small emotion like embers rose in my heart.
It was a feeling that was too hard to define.
* * *
"Miss Diana is so pitiful."
As I was leaving the room after finishing dressing up, I heard the conversation between the maids from beyond the door.
"Have you heard of the rumor? Of all people why is it Earl Theodore?"
"I heard that a man who tried to cheat on him was beheaded and killed.”
"Yes, Earl Theodore originally asked His Grace for Miss Cecilia, but we're sending Miss Diana instead. It's kind of like...”
It was fraud what the Duke of Tristan is trying to do to the Earl of Theodore.
I already know that Earl Theodore has no mercy on the person who deceives him.
Rumors spread to the capital that a merchant who tried to cheat him just a few months ago had his head cut off and died.
If Earl Theodore knew everything about me, I would be in grave danger.
When I opened the door and came out of the room, the maids were startled and frantically moved and form a row with their heads lowered.
"Is it ready?"
"Ah yes, it's right outside, Miss.”
Ignoring all the conversations they had, I left the manor and climbed into the carriage.
Perhaps because all the preparations were complete, the carriage started not for long as soon as I climbed inside.
Whenever the carriage rattled, the view from the window also shook. I looked out the window to relieve my frustration, but it didn't work very well.
I sighed and looked away from the window and stared at my hands. The hands rested on the beautifully tailored dress clenches as if expressing their own frustration.
I accepted the marriage, and the marriage went on without a hitch. So now, I was on my way to Earl Theodore's manor.
There wasn't even a formal wedding ceremony being held.
For Earl Theodore, a wedding ceremony isn't necessary because we're only getting married on paper.
Duke Tristan had no choice but to comply with the Earl's demands on the portion of Eul.
The same was true with the wedding.
I did not oppose it because my existence was a stumbling block for my father, Duke Tristan.
Even if it was a marriage with a purpose, it was natural to organize a decent wedding, but it was already a luxury for me.
Yes, this was what I knew from the original story.
Even if I married Earl Theodore like in the novel, there would be nothing that Earl Theodore could gain from me or the Duke of Tristan.
I'm not my father's biological daughter anyway. Rather, my father wanted to get rid of me.
It was because I am the sole heir of my mother, the former Duchess of Tristan.
And then there's my stepfather who did not acknowledge me as a daughter and was wary and abusive.
On the day he lost the money from gambling, he blamed it all on me.
It must have been an act of being unable to overcome the fact that he was extorting what's mine. I simply couldn't understand why he was trying to solve that feeling of remorse by abusing me.
Then, in a midst of that, Earl Theodore appeared, offering a large sum of money and wanted to marry one of the Duke's daughters.
In a way, it was natural for my father to accept the proposal without a moment's thought.
The opportunity fell into his lap and he used this to get rid of me in exchange for money.
But then the problem comes after that.
Without knowing this, Earl Theodore tried to take advantage of the fact that he had become an in-law with the Tristan dukedom, but my father, the current Duke Tristan had no reason to cooperate with Earl Theodore anymore since Father had already gotten what he wanted and even removed the baggage.
Furious at uncooperative Duke Tristan's actions, Earl Theodore treats me like I was invisible.
And it was stated in the original novel that I would be dying all alone while longing for the affection of Earl Theodore.
In the original story, there was a scene when the female protagonist was kidnapped by the villain and an excerpt was written that describes my existence.
I remember this because I was the author of the novel.
At the time of writing, I depict the wife of the villain as a sickly character for him to stand out, but when I became that wife, I realized how exhausting it is.
"We're here, Miss."
The coach stopped slowly as the horseman informed me of our arrival.
Now it only just sinking in that I have arrived at Earl Theodore's manor.
"Alright. I'll get off now." As soon as I said it, the door opened and with the help of the horseman, I got off the carriage.
I looked up at the manor and the first thing I could see was the structure that was as huge and splendid as our duchy's manor.
"Welcome, Madam."
The servants and maids who were standing in line at the entrance bowed before me.
Contrary to what I thought that the absence of a wedding ceremony would make them treat me poorly, it seemed they're still being respectful and regarded me as one of the owners of this manor.
It was a relief.
The maid with her head down in front of me straighten her body and came up to me.
She was a middle-aged woman with light brown hair.
"We've been waiting, Madam. I'm Oliviel Lorette, the head maid. Feel free to speak comfortably with me."
"Yes, Oliviel. Nice to meet you."
Oliviel bowed once more to my greeting.
"First of all, let's go inside, Madam. The wind is cold."
"Alright."
As I walked forward, the servants and maids moved to open a pathway. Oliviel guided me into the manor.
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