A woman who is more beautiful than anyone else in the world, and also the kindest person. She was a perfect protagonist, with a description that everyone, regardless of gender, was friendly towards her.
Eileen's pink hair that was as soft as silk gently bounced every time she came down the stairs.
Big eyes, a tall nose, bright red small lips.
Despite being the same blue color, unlike Richard's cold blue eyes, her eyes were warm like the sky on a clear day. And the blue dress she wore matched the color of her eyes and made her stand out even more.
Eileen stood out more than anyone else in this ball, although everyone donned in their fancy dresses and elaborated ornaments.
Is that why? Everyone at this ball gazed at Eileen and so did I.
Just briefly, we met each other's eyes and I was frozen in place. She was so beautiful that at a glance, it was hard to not believe she was the heroine.
In particular, her pink hair was making her look more lovely.
So beautiful that Crown Prince Cesar Crichton and Richard fell in love with her. Of course, Eileen's true value wasn't just because of her looks, but anyway, that's how I felt when I first saw her.
While everyone was mesmerized seeing Eileen entered the hall, I turned my head and looked at Richard.
Richard, like everyone else, was looking at Eileen. He couldn't take his eyes off of her. That's how it was supposed to be.
For some reason, I feel kind of empty.
It was because I felt a huge contrast between Eileen, the main character of this world, and me who was about to die.
As Eileen completely stepped into the banquet hall, a large crowd gathered around her.
Some of the people around Richard were also moving towards her. Unfortunately, her innocent appearance, which I had never come across anything like before, fascinated people.
Maybe Eileen gets involved with the villain who wants her because of her innocence. A persistent, virulent villain is willing to kidnap and imprison her just to have her.
And that villain was my husband, Richard Theodore.
Richard was still fixating his gaze on Eileen.
Even though it will be two years later before their fates intertwined like the original story, he must have been instantly drawn by her impressive bright spirit.
I pulled my hand that was nestled on Richard's forearm.
Only then did Richard turn his gaze away from Eileen and look at me.
"What's wrong?"
Richard asked in wonder as if nothing had happened.
I stared into Richard's eyes and tried to see through him. But he had an expression of obliviousness like he didn't know what he did for me to act like that.
"Diana?"
After receiving my penetrating stare, Richard eventually frowned. I thought at this point I'm capable of reading him.
I should better get to the point.
I looked back and forth between Eileen and Richard and said, "I'm fine, so why don't you go see her?"
It wasn't me who's oblivious and didn't know his eyes were hot on Eileen. In addition, Eileen and Richard will be having an extremely close relationship in the future.
Even before they become acquainted, I could even imagine that Eileen's presence would have affected Richard very hard. However, he did not readily approach Eileen right now.
Maybe it's because I'm here.
"Aren't you going?”
He shrugged his shoulders and said that it was fine. Nevertheless, Richard did not understand what I was trying to say and frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I think you're interested in Princess Heinz."
"What?"
"Are you not?"
I can't be wrong. Ever since Eileen entered the hall, he's been looking at her.
"Why did you think so?"
"That's...."
'Because you were staring intently at Eileen.'
Words that I couldn't bring up lingered in my mouth.
Knowing that speaking outright would only offend Richard, I found a reason for him to go to her instead of speaking directly.
"Princess Heinz is the only daughter of Duke Heinz, the second most powerful after the Emperor. There's no harm in maintaining a good relationship with her."
After saying that, I unconsciously looked at his reaction.
Of course, the Richard in the novel didn't fall in love just by looking at Eileen's appearance.
Richard fell in love with her to a certain extent because Eileen is a pure and sincere person. And she was also warmhearted and would always sympathize with his pain.
Not someone who only wants him selfishly like me.
But unexpectedly Richard shook his head as if he had heard something ridiculous.
"I already know Duke Heinz. So it doesn't matter if I don't greet his daughter."
"Really?"
I thought he would go to Eileen any minute, but it was a surprise. But I didn't comment anymore because I thought Richard would find it strange if I pry any further.
It was after my death that Richard and Eileen became involved with each other about two years from now. I speculated that my death must precede so that the original story will begin.
Suddenly, I envied Eileen.
She'll have everything I don't have, and eventually, she'll have a happy ending.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked me while I was looking at Eileen, who was like a blooming flower amongst the crowd.
"What do you mean what's wrong?"
I was lost in thought and couldn't make sense of what he meant, so Richard followed my gaze and looked at Eileen.
"You keep looking at Princess Heinz,” Richard said.
"I'm envious."
"What?"
"With everything."
With everything she has. Her loving family, the male lead who will only look at her, and her predetermined happy ending.
I envied even that, although she would cause harm to Richard once she reached her happy ending. At least she will live.
I couldn't stand myself having to envy her for getting hold of all the things I didn't have. I wanted to change everything if I could.
To avoid even death at all costs......
"By the way, there's your father. Aren't you going to greet him?"
Instead of bringing up the matter with Eileen more, Richard changed the subject. When I turned to look in the direction Richard looked at, I found my stepfather, Duke Tristan.
Any real family would have greeted each other first and foremost, but Father didn't even look at me even though I already entered the hall for quite some time.
I would have guessed so.
Now that you have received everything you wanted to get, you can dispose of everything you need to dispose of.
Richard had paid off all his debts, and since I, Diana Theodore, am a threat to my father's possessions, had already been dealt with, he would have nothing more to do with me and Richard.
"I don't want to."
"……."
I turned my head away from Richard who's looking at me with brows creased.
"You already know. That I'm not his real daughter."
The story of Duke Tristan was already widespread in the Empire.
My stepfather stole everything after my mother's death. And this is something Earl Theodore would know as well.
So when he asked for marriage, he originally asked for Cecilia, not me. Under current circumstances, the man who marries Cecilia will have everything of Duke Tristan.
All Richard wanted was to become the Duke of Tristan. But it was only me he gained in exchange for paying a huge amount of money.
I'm nothing more than an ugly duckling.
How despondent and angry he must have been to the point he canceled our wedding ceremony.
Plus he didn't know, that I have been rotting inside due to Darnella's disease, which I've been suffering from for years.
I was afraid of what would happen if Richard knew that I have a lifespan of only a year.
Will he be so angry after being deceived and kick me out? I can't go back to the duchy anymore, so what am I supposed to do?
Even though it hadn't happened yet, my expression went dark.
Richard wrinkled his brows and opened his mouth at my words, not knowing about my inner turmoil.
"Even if you are not Duke Tristan's biological daughter, he's still your adopted father, is he not?”
"That would be the case, but......"
Even if I go there, I would only be ridiculed. Why would I want to be laughed at by that man?
Everything was already taken away......
Thinking that far, I raised my head and made eye contact with Richard.
Yeah, that's exactly what Richard wanted.
The Tristan dukedom, and everything my father has. And everything my father has is supposed to be mine.
I was hoping for him to come back the way he was before with happy memories of my childhood, but I wondered what good it does to me at this point.
The only thing that comes back to me after years of waiting and giving up my inheritance was an absolute cold shoulder anyway.
So I'd rather restore all those things to their original owner. Now that wouldn't be such a bad idea, would it?
"Richard."
As I softly called his name, Richard smiled slightly while looking at me with interest.
"I knew something wasn't right."
Noticing my change, Richard glanced around before he took my hand.
"This place has many eyes and ears, so let's move somewhere else."
Knowing that speaking outright would only offend Richard, I found a reason for him to go to her instead of speaking directly.
"Princess Heinz is the only daughter of Duke Heinz, the second most powerful after the Emperor. There's no harm in maintaining a good relationship with her."
After saying that, I unconsciously looked at his reaction.
Of course, the Richard in the novel didn't fall in love just by looking at Eileen's appearance.
Richard fell in love with her to a certain extent because Eileen is a pure and sincere person. And she was also warmhearted and would always sympathize with his pain.
Not someone who only wants him selfishly like me.
But unexpectedly Richard shook his head as if he had heard something ridiculous.
"I already know Duke Heinz. So it doesn't matter if I don't greet his daughter."
"Really?"
I thought he would go to Eileen any minute, but it was a surprise. But I didn't comment anymore because I thought Richard would find it strange if I pry any further.
It was after my death that Richard and Eileen became involved with each other about two years from now. I speculated that my death must precede so that the original story will begin.
Suddenly, I envied Eileen.
She'll have everything I don't have, and eventually, she'll have a happy ending.
"What's wrong?" Richard asked me while I was looking at Eileen, who was like a blooming flower amongst the crowd.
"What do you mean what's wrong?"
I was lost in thought and couldn't make sense of what he meant, so Richard followed my gaze and looked at Eileen.
"You keep looking at Princess Heinz,” Richard said.
"I'm envious."
"What?"
"With everything."
With everything she has. Her loving family, the male lead who will only look at her, and her predetermined happy ending.
I envied even that, although she would cause harm to Richard once she reached her happy ending. At least she will live.
I couldn't stand myself having to envy her for getting hold of all the things I didn't have. I wanted to change everything if I could.
To avoid even death at all costs......
"By the way, there's your father. Aren't you going to greet him?"
Instead of bringing up the matter with Eileen more, Richard changed the subject. When I turned to look in the direction Richard looked at, I found my stepfather, Duke Tristan.
Any real family would have greeted each other first and foremost, but Father didn't even look at me even though I already entered the hall for quite some time.
I would have guessed so.
Now that you have received everything you wanted to get, you can dispose of everything you need to dispose of.
Richard had paid off all his debts, and since I, Diana Theodore, am a threat to my father's possessions, had already been dealt with, he would have nothing more to do with me and Richard.
"I don't want to."
"……."
I turned my head away from Richard who's looking at me with brows creased.
"You already know. That I'm not his real daughter."
The story of Duke Tristan was already widespread in the Empire.
My stepfather stole everything after my mother's death. And this is something Earl Theodore would know as well.
So when he asked for marriage, he originally asked for Cecilia, not me. Under current circumstances, the man who marries Cecilia will have everything of Duke Tristan.
All Richard wanted was to become the Duke of Tristan. But it was only me he gained in exchange for paying a huge amount of money.
I'm nothing more than an ugly duckling.
How despondent and angry he must have been to the point he canceled our wedding ceremony.
Plus he didn't know, that I have been rotting inside due to Darnella's disease, which I've been suffering from for years.
I was afraid of what would happen if Richard knew that I have a lifespan of only a year.
Will he be so angry after being deceived and kick me out? I can't go back to the duchy anymore, so what am I supposed to do?
Even though it hadn't happened yet, my expression went dark.
Richard wrinkled his brows and opened his mouth at my words, not knowing about my inner turmoil.
"Even if you are not Duke Tristan's biological daughter, he's still your adopted father, is he not?”
"That would be the case, but......"
Even if I go there, I would only be ridiculed. Why would I want to be laughed at by that man?
Everything was already taken away......
Thinking that far, I raised my head and made eye contact with Richard.
Yeah, that's exactly what Richard wanted.
The Tristan dukedom, and everything my father has. And everything my father has is supposed to be mine.
I was hoping for him to come back the way he was before with happy memories of my childhood, but I wondered what good it does to me at this point.
The only thing that comes back to me after years of waiting and giving up my inheritance was an absolute cold shoulder anyway.
So I'd rather restore all those things to their original owner. Now that wouldn't be such a bad idea, would it?
"Richard."
As I softly called his name, Richard smiled slightly while looking at me with interest.
"I knew something wasn't right."
Noticing my change, Richard glanced around before he took my hand.
"This place has many eyes and ears, so let's move somewhere else."
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