Chapter 1 - Prologue
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05. Secret
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‘The bed I was lying in was the Grand Duchess’s bedroom in the main castle…’
Seria finally came to understand that fact a while later. The green manor had hundreds of rooms that she could stay in, but here she was in the Grand Duchess’s bedroom….As soon as Seria had a puzzled look on her face, Susan opened her mouth.
“Lady Seria?”
“Yes?”
“I heard all about the wedding from Linon. It’s not a shameful marriage to conceal from others, and Stern’s marriage is even more sacred than the wedding of His Majesty the Emperor. It’s still a grand official wedding, so you can use your official bedroom.”
‘…Is that so?’
Now that she heard about it, it seemed right. However, Seria wasn’t a big fan of flashy things.
She thought it was too much, but she had never seen such an elegant yet gorgeous bedroom in her life.
And she didn’t have time to think about the Grand Duchess’s bedroom for long because there was something that stole her nerves.
“Miss, do your left hand feel uncomfortable?”
It wasn’t until Abigail asked that Seria realized her hand was wrapped in bandages. It wasn’t just wrapped around her hand, but it seemed to be wrapped in with something. When she gave her a startled look, Susan quickly explained.
“His Highness said that you would know if I told you that you were picked up in the basement, do you have any idea?”
“In the basement?”
Seria’s eyes opened wide instantly. Of course, she knew. Before she fainted, she grabbed the strange object that was covered with black Magi with her hand.
“Why am I wearing bandages?”
“Young Lady wouldn’t let it go. I was afraid it would strain your wrist if you held it a long time.”
Abigail smiled, “Your knight is very sensitive, Miss.”
Abigail smiled an unusually dark smile and quickly removed the bandage. Seria expected to see an unidentified object covered in pitch black demonic shadows ….
“Huh?”
As soon as she saw it with her own eyes, Seria couldn’t help but panic.
“Susan? Has this been looking like this all the time in the green manor?”
“Yes, Miss.”
The shadow that was black as squid ink had completely disappeared. What appeared was a unique pendant with a bright red ruby in the middle of a golden star engraved on a circular base*.
(*If you look at the novel cover, you’ll see Seria wearing this pendant necklace.)
Seria blacked out and woke up, holding what looked like a royal heirloom in her hand.
Seria knew about this pendant. Actually, it was a circlet.
It was from the original story.
This was the treasure that the two second male leads who were in love with Lina fiercely fought over.
Was that all? For a start, one of them was one of Seria’s brothers. His name was Nissos Kellyden.
Of course, they were half-brothers and sisters, but they were like cows to her.
No? Was that a very generous metaphor? Maybe “dog-eat-dog” would be more accurate.
A part of the original story popped into her head.
[ Nissos Kellyden glanced at the pamphlet, his angelic light blue eyes sparkled. It was the last present for this season’s auction, the Awakening Ruby and Golden Circle. Never once had a gemstone so hotly enlivened the capital auction house this year.
“Lina will love this when I give it to her, won’t she?”
“Of course, Master Nissos, the jewel would be most suitable for the Saintess.”
Nissos squeezed his wrinkled brow with his thumb. Despite hearing the affirmative reply, fatigue did not leave him immediately.
“It would be nice if the scoundrel Seria would hand over the red diamond. She collapsed at the last minute.”
“…”
“I’m pissed. No matter how I look at it, that red diamond is much more suitable for the Saintess.”
“Hmph. Young Master, it seems that Lady Seria is in a bad mood, so please…”
“What is it?”
The old butler’s words angered Nissos.
“Who do you call ‘Young Lady’? That insane woman ungratefully abandoned the family name!”
Nissos Kellyden. He could never accept his extravagant, vain, and violent half-sister as a sibling. ]
Tsk. Tsk.
It was a scene where Seria could not help but click her tongue.
It was true that the original Seria was a violent, vicious piece of trash. But that didn’t mean that Nissos could take his sister’s things.
Flirt would be a more accurate term than unrequited love. Because there was a subtle atmosphere between Lina and Nissos. However, it was not enough compared to Kalis, the second male lead, or Lesche, the male lead.
But still, Nissos Kellyden was an important side character.
What is love? It was unbelievable that he tried to trick his sister to take the red diamond.
The Red Diamond was a gem. It was one of the reasons why Seria had a serious fallout with her family.
It was the only episode where Seria felt a little sorry for the original Seria.
She didn’t know why, but in the original, Seria Stern didn’t even process the precious red diamond, she just kept it in the jewelry box. There was a decisive incident when this fact spread quickly through the social circles.
The original Seria had many enemies in the society.
One day, a person who was very powerful in the imperial social circle held a grand banquet. The theme of the banquet was “Family Jewels”.
Upon receiving the invitation, each of them would bring a gem related to their family lineage and enjoy it together. This invitation was first given to Seria.
It was obviously a taunt aimed at Seria. Because Seria at that time was already a neglected daughter in the Kellyden family. Only on the birthday of her father, Marquis Kellyden, she went down to the western territories and stayed for a day. And that was the end of the relationship.
It was a banquet where everyone was prepared to laugh at Seria as much as they could.
Seria made her grand entrance at the latest hour as if she was the main character of the banquet. With her jewel in tow, of course.
The nobles kept their ridicule hidden while expecting that she would bring any jewel and say it in an appropriate manner. Eager to take full advantage of the rare opportunity to put Seria in a tight spot, they opened their eyes wide when they saw the jewel she placed on the table.
It was the Red Diamond.
First of all, on the surface, it was that big, crisp blue diamond that her father, Marquis Kellyden, had bought for her, that famous gem that every aristocrat involved in the social world knew was shining proudly.
It was not often that such an expensive gem was kept in its original state. Unless she valued the person who bought the jewel.
Did Seria miss her father?
No, that couldn’t possibly be true. Was it because the blue diamond cost as much as the price of an island?
Well, although there were so many evil things Seria committed, it was quickly diluted and went silent.
And this was the only episode where Seria could feel any humanity from the original Seria Stern.
Anyway…
Nissos Kellyden was a bad guy too.
Seria was probably in a lot of debt at the time. Because she bought all kinds of jewelry and dresses to show off to Lina. The original Seria was all for vanity and luxury.
It was just not enough to maintain dignity.
Just as before Seria almost fell for the coaxing words of Nissos Kellyden and handed him the red diamond, she found out that Nissos wanted the precious jewel to give to Lina as a gift.
That caused her to shudder and have a seizure. That made her brother’s heart skip a beat, who dared to deceive her.
‘What…’
It was not Seria’s retrospection that was important. Seria looked down at the shimmering pendant in her hand.
The pendant eventually fell into the hands of Nissos Kellyden after a fierce battle with all the men. Despite paying a huge price, Nissos presented this magnificent pendant to Lina for her birthday without hesitation.
Well, it goes without saying that the pendant was by far the most eye-catching among all those gems.
Naturally, Lina loved this gift very much, so much that she wore the circlet on her forehead all the time. Even on her wedding day, where the nobles of the Glick Empire were the only ones allowed to wear tiaras, she wore this circlet on her forehead.
It was strange to have a wedding where the bride wore another man’s gift on her body…
“Lady Seria.”
Susan called in a gentle voice.
“His Highness said you can keep that treasure.”
“…This?”
“Yes. It’s nice, Young Lady. It looks very good on you.”
‘Lesche is giving me this precious jewelry?’
Seria was a little perplexed by Susan’s words. Certainly, this pendant was an eye-popping gift. Seria was extravagant and loved gold and jewel-like treasures, and of course she loved money.
If it was in the past, she must have thought that Lesche would go to Lina as in the original novel. But it was not right now. Seria frowned because she thought of Kalis for no reason.
“Miss, are you tired?”
“No, tell His Highness that I am grateful….No, I’ll tell him directly.”
“Of course. Please take a rest today. His Highness has been busy with meetings.”
“Yes.”
Seria looked at the pendant she had in her hands.
“But this is like a venerable treasure of Berg.”
Susan smiled.
“If it’s Berg’s, it’s all yours, My Lady.”
At that moment, the sound of a crash rang in her ears. It came from the maids who were busily decorating the Grand Duchess’s bedchamber. One of them broke a vase and they all had startled expressions on their faces.