Chapter 1 - Prologue
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The dining room was the place where most aristocrats pay the most attention, along with the garden and the first floor hall. A place that was immediately visible to the guests was usually more demanding, and it seemed that the Kellyden put a lot of effort into it.
Softly curved silver trimmings adorned the dining room. Luxury ceramic vases were decorated with white flowers appropriate to the funeral atmosphere, and the long carpet was fluffy, with flowers and trees tightly embroidered with gold thread on both edges.
The major framework in Seria’s memory was the same, but the details had changed. More luxurious, of course. However, in such a luxurious castle there was a filthy room…..(only Seria’s room that was robbed and trashed.)
It was indeed a beautiful castle, just like the powerful people of the West, but people were really cunning beings.
‘I’m not impressed.’
The first time she saw Seria’s townhouse, it was very nice and stunning. The other nobles’ mansions that she visited were even more gorgeous.
Needless to say, the Kellyden castle of the west was much larger and more luxurious than those mansions in the capital.
But that was all. The reason for this was obvious. Because she stayed at Berg castle. Two huge of the Kellyden castles had to be put together to make a Berg castle. It was just that.
In the dining hall, there were many tables lined up, unlike usual. There must be a lot of people eating there.
It was a great choice to come early. There weren’t many people there now.
“Young lady, I will show you to your seat.”
The servant approached cautiously. Seria was ushered to the most senior of the many tables. It was a table made of marble and ivory, far more ornate than the other tables. Perhaps it was because Seria’s family hadn’t arrived yet, but all the seats were empty.
‘But, why are there six pieces of cutlery?’
Weren’t there five people in Kellyden castle?
The Marquis and his wife, Seria’s two older brothers, and Seria herself.
As she was wondering why, she suddenly felt the presence of a person. A young woman’s voice was heard.
“How are you?”
Seria looked up. She tilted her head curiously at the young woman
approaching and stopping right across from her.
The servant quickly spoke.
“I’m sorry I’m late in introducing you. Lady Seria. This is the daughter of Count Mensla. Miss Olivia Mensla. First Young Master’s fiancée.”
“Huh?”
At the mention of Cassius’s fiancée, Seria flinched.
Olivia Mensla.
‘So this is her.’
In every romance novel, there was always a character who had a fiancée, but was distracted by the heroine and messed around.
That’s right. That’s exactly what Cassius Kellyden was.
‘D*mn. I can’t believe that’s Seria’s brother. It’s embarrassing.’
Cassius Kellyden was also one of the men playing around with Lina’s fishing grounds. And, as it was said, he was one of those men who couldn’t prevent his heart from being stolen by Lina, even though he had a fiancée.
‘I remember the story, but I don’t remember the name of his fiancée clearly.
Olivia Mensla. That’s what she was called.
I think the engagement was called off.’
In the original story, Cassius began to watch Lina as she made her debut in the imperial society, and after he was tied to her, he neglected his fiancée Olivia. However, fortunately, Olivia saw his heart for Lina.
In the end, Olivia secretly bullied Lina, who took her fiancé’s heart, behind his back, and was caught by Cassius, who broke off the engagement and immediately left the scene.
‘Either way, there’s nothing left in a broken family.’
The eldest son fell in love with another woman and broke off the engagement with his fiancée.
The second son fell in love with another woman, and tried to steal his half sister’s jewelry to give it to her.
Both of them have no concept of decency….The Marquis and Marchioness of Kellyden’s child-raising was a clear example of failure.
When Seria thought that far, she couldn’t help but feel sorry for Olivia. As the daughter of a Count, how exciting it must be for her to be engaged to the heir to the Marquis of Kellyden. Moreover, Cassius had a fine appearance too.
But apart from these impressions, Olivia Mensla did not seem to like Seria very much. It was not really a relevant issue. In this empire, the aristocrats of the same age who were interested in Seria were close to rare creatures. They hated or feared Seria regardless of gender. The thought of living in vain crossed her mind.
“Hello, Grand Duchess.”
Olivia spoke with a smile in her eyes.
“You came down early. I thought you would be the last to enter the dining room like the main character.”
‘Look at her.’
“Is that necessary? You don’t have to be so childish to know that I’m Marquis Kellyden’s daughter and Grand Duchess of Berg. But if you want to, I can leave now and come back later when everyone is here.”
Seria asked back.
“But not by myself. Lady Mensla, let’s enter the dining room at the end with me.”
“What?”
When Seria tried to get up, Olivia panicked. She must know, too. As long as Seria was the Grand Duchess, whoever she entered with, people would just focus on her. Unless she came in with Lesche. Of course, no noblewomen liked to be treated as bridesmaids. And it would be even more inconvenient for Olivia, since she would be in a position to become a marchioness at the Kellyden’s at a later date.
“Don’t worry … It’s okay….Grand Duchess…. You don’t have to bother to enter again when you’ve already sat down.”
“Are you sure?”
Olivia fanned herself gently with her hand, then smiled.
“Now, shall we eat first? I have heard that the others will be arriving late. There were more mourners than expected, so everyone is busy welcoming them.”
‘That’s true. There were a lot of carriages.’
“I was told that it would probably take a couple of hours, so you can eat first.”
“Eat first?”
“Yes.”
This sitting was not a banquet. There were a lot of mourners, and even though the dining room was large, there was limited space. There was no such thing as a rule that they all had to eat together. Some of the nobles were already eating at other tables.
Of course, just because they did, it didn’t mean that she had to eat first and leave.
‘The cutlery is placed on the table by number, but you want me to eat alone and go first?’
First of all, Seria was not close to her family.
And she didn’t like to be with her family either.
Despite this personality, she was very sensitive to insults.
Now the real Seria would have kicked her seat in anger and walked out. She looked at Olivia’s face, which was smiling. She had an awkward smile and avoided Seria’s gaze.
‘It seems that it has been quite a while since she entered the mansion? She knows Seria well.”
“I’ll just wait.”
Olivia’s eyes went wide, as if she didn’t expect Seria to answer. She sounded a little perplexed.
“But if you wait, wouldn’t it be difficult for your family to sit with you?”
“Why would it be difficult to sit together?”
“Because they are not in the position to eat with the Grand Duchess, are they?”
‘You are really good at speaking in front of the infamous Seria…’
At first glance it sounded right, but of course it didn’t fit the logic. Because there were already six pieces of cutlery here.
‘Well, are you trying to start a fight?’
There was nothing Seria couldn’t do if she had to. Seria nodded and spoke.
“Thank you for telling me. Young Lady Olivia.”
“You’re welcome.”
Seria raised her voice, not taking her eyes off Olivia.
“Butler!”
Her voice was more than a little loud in the quiet atmosphere of the dining room, and for a moment, all eyes looked her way. Olivia immediately gave Seria a puzzled look.
The butler came up to Seria quickly and she said,
“Put away all the cutlery in here. Oh, and leave mine and Young Lady Olivia’s.”
“Hmm? What do you mean….?”
“Get rid of them.”
“Miss Seria. What’s on this table isn’t something you can remove at will.”
“Can’t you hear me?”
“Lady, that’s a very difficult order.”
The chief butler looked at Seria with a protesting expression. He didn’t easily obey Seria’s order. She understood, of course, because it was an important table where the Kellyden’s immediate family would come and sit, but his attitude of stopping her was straightforward and arrogant.
How polite and kind the Berg people had been to her came to mind.
“You are not going to do it? If you don’t put them away, I might just break it all.”
“What?”
This was not a joke. Didn’t he know Seria’s personality well? Without further ado, Seria lifted the plate that was in front of her. When she was about to throw it on the ground, the butler was surprised and stopped her.
“Yes, I’ll put them away.”
The butler hurriedly put away the cutlery with a pale face. He also took the plate that was almost destroyed by Seria’s hand and put it away carefully.
Olivia’s face went pale and the surroundings went silent, but Seria couldn’t care less.