Episode 9
The smile vanished from the noble lady’s face, leaving her expression cold as ice. Her tone was firm and chilly.
When young nobles got angry, they often raised their voices and lost their composure. But not Eliano. She never raised her voice. Her perfect and proper manners had grown even more refined. The older noblewoman who had once been disappointed in her timid nature began to hope again.
On the day in question, Countess Hyren’s daughter answered the host’s cheerful question at the tea party like this:
— “The tea party is lovely, but someone’s presence is making it unpleasant. Oh, hello, Lady Rosana.”
Eliano immediately understood that she was the “unpleasant person” being referred to. So she didn’t stay silent.
— “How wonderful, Lady Hyren. I feel the same. I don’t enjoy your company either—what should we do?”
— “W-what did you say?”
— “I don’t think I can stay any longer.”
Those green eyes, which once shimmered with tears at any insult, now remained completely dry. Not only did she reply, but she used her status to take bold action—she had her removed.
— “Lady Hyren, must I spell it out for you?”
— “W-why me…?”
— “Sigh… Lady Hyren. Please don’t make me explain this in front of everyone. We’d both only be embarrassed.”
To sum it up, Lady Hyren, who had once again picked a fight like usual, ended up being politely asked to leave the tea party by the host—Marchioness Persetin’s daughter. It had all happened exactly as rumoured, and it was all Eliano’s doing.
— “Lady Persetin, I don’t enjoy repeating myself.”
— “L-Lady Rosana…”
Your mother should’ve told you how to behave at times like this. Don’t force me to say anything more.
As the highest-ranking guest, Eliano said she could no longer stay. So the hostess respectfully asked Lady Hyren to excuse herself. With a bright red face and huffing breath, she stormed out of the tea party.
At first, no one believed it. Some noble sons loudly defended Eliano, saying there was no way the angelic Lady Rosana would do such a thing. Others claimed it was just slander.
— “Lady Rosana kicked out Lady Hyren? Lady Hyren must’ve said something truly terrible. You know how much she’s endured until now.”
Lady Hyren would’ve fainted if she’d heard that. All she had said was one of her usual passive-aggressive comments. She’d said worse before, and Eliano always smiled it off. She’d thought Eliano was a clueless, harmless girl—until she ended up humiliated.
All the gentlemen’s clubs and tea parties were buzzing about Eliano Rosana and Lady Hyren.
Eliano watched the whirlwind caused by her small flutter and sighed.
“I really was a fool in the past.”
To think someone so naive had managed to survive as the Empress of Zacador—it was almost a miracle. But when Eliano thought back to her past life, her mood quickly sank.
Could she really say she “survived”? She had only become Empress because she rode the wave of her husband’s fortune. She had barely held on, and in the end, he poisoned her to death.
She had foolishly believed his passionate love would last forever. She didn’t even notice when it started fading. She should’ve been smarter or, at the very least, more aware. Or maybe… she should’ve just been completely ignorant.
“Then I would’ve died even earlier.”
Even though she had died, she woke up again at twenty-one. Grateful for that miracle, Eliano began visiting the temple. She started praying to Macarisera—the goddess she once only knew as a pretty statue called the “fairy of fortune.”
She gave thanks for her miraculous luck and made a vow.
“Dear goddess, thank you. I will never live a miserable, pitiful life again.”
Everyone said she would live forever in luxury under the protection of the Duke of Rosana. Since she wasn’t being forced into marriage like most noble girls, they envied her.
Eliano thought it was laughable.
“Lady Eliano, I heard you received a proposal recently—and rejected it?”
“Are you planning to join the temple, perhaps?”
Eliano gave a faint smile instead of answering. When she lowered her veil and prepared to pray, the other young ladies stepped back respectfully.
Now that time had turned back, Eliano visited the temple far more often. She wondered why she hadn’t come here sooner. The peace and stillness brought her comfort. Maybe this is what peace really feels like, she thought. In her past life, she had even considered retreating to the temple after being dethroned.
“I have to make my own peace. I can’t just join the temple to escape.”
Being the daughter of a powerful duke meant endless proposals. Gossipers called her the most desirable bride in the empire. Everyone was curious who the noble lady would choose.
After finishing her short prayer and lifting her veil, a priest approached Eliano. Her generous donations had been increasing lately, and with her noble background, the temple had taken a special interest in her.
“Would you like something to eat?”
At his offer, the other ladies looked to Eliano. When she nodded, a light meal was set on a garden table. As they ate, the conversation turned—as always—to her recent proposals. Eliano didn’t stop them.
“You even received one at Count Plez’s party, didn’t you? It must be tiring.”
The young women weren’t fast-talking socialites, but they were polite and kind. Eliano had chosen to surround herself with ladies like them on purpose.
“They expressed their feelings with sincerity, but I’m sorry I couldn’t return them.”
Eliano said politely as she raised her cup. But to her, these proposals were nothing more than shallow attempts by men who just wanted to attach their names to hers. She could see right through them. In her past life, she’d foolishly felt flattered, thinking they proved her worth.
“Lady Eliano, it’s such a waste. Whoever you choose would have their life changed.”
“I heard Duke Rosana listens to your opinion when it comes to choosing a husband. I’m so jealous. And your twin brother loves you so much too—how comforting that must be.”
Their words mixed truth and lies.
Yes, she received many proposals, and yes, she was the most sought-after bride in Bianteca. But Eliano had no say in accepting or refusing them.
— “Eliano, never forget that it’s your father who made you who you are now. I will decide which man may pick the Rosana flower. If you let yourself be plucked carelessly and shame the family, I will not forgive you.”
The luxury Eliano lived in was wrapped in subtle cruelty. She wore expensive dresses and shining jewels, and ate only the finest foods. Anything she wanted was given to her—only if it was within her father’s approval.
She had been raised to be the perfect, obedient noble lady—but was prevented from truly growing. Everyone praised her high education, but in truth, it was all manners and etiquette. Nothing more.
She was never allowed to awaken her mind. She wasn’t even taught that there was more to learn. As a child, she struggled just to learn the etiquette. And she was told it was enough to know a lady’s level of knowledge—no need to learn more. She had foolishly been happy with that.
— “The library? What would you do there?”
— “I’ll bring books suitable for a lady. You don’t need to study anymore. Go see the dressmaker. You can’t fall behind on fashion trends.”
Looking back now, it was all intentional—to keep her ignorant. That’s why she never learned the joy of studying. Everything sounded too difficult to understand.
— “Miss Eliano, if this part is hard, we can skip it.”
— “But teacher, if Father finds out… he’ll be angry…”
To Eliano, her father was terrifying. To the outside world, he was a loving man, but the truth was very different.
— “Don’t worry. I’ll keep it a secret from the Duke. I’ll even say you got a perfect score. Don’t cry, my lady—it will ruin your pretty face.”
But that evening, Eliano was beaten for crying and embarrassing herself in front of the tutor. Only her nanny had shielded her body when the Duke struck her.
He didn’t stop until the cane broke. As Eliano clutched her bruised legs and cried, the Duke said:
— “Remember this pain. If you ever fail to fulfil your place, this is what will happen. And Eliano, I’m not punishing you. Understand?”
To everyone else, the Duke seemed like a loving father who never even raised his voice. But Eliano realized her mistake—she understood now that all her tutors reported every detail to him. Her father let her stay ignorant because it made her easier to control.
— “My lady, the Duke does this because he loves you. If you obey him, only good things will come your way. So beg for his forgiveness.”
Following her nanny’s advice, Eliano begged for forgiveness. The Duke was pleased with her submissive attitude.
— “Lia, my daughter. Yes, that’s how you should ask for forgiveness. Never forget that your father’s choices are always right. Have I ever led you astray?”
Everything was wrong. Everything. And ever since she realized it, Eliano had never forgotten it—not for a single moment.
