Chapter 6
Without looking back, Stefan scolded his sister in a dry voice.
“When you enter my room, ask for permission first, Susan Edmond!”
“I knocked several times. I was polite enough, but you didn’t make a sound. It’s definitely your fault, not mine!”
Despite the name “brother,” Susan argued fiercely. Only then did Stefan turn to face his sister.
“You haven’t changed.”
Susan pouted at her brother’s comment.
“I’ve matured over the past year.”
Indeed, it was evident that she had grown considerably in the past year. With her mother’s golden hair and green eyes, Susan resembled Rita so much that it was almost as if they were twins.
Stefan swallowed a bitter smile at the thought that Susan might soon look like Rita’s twin.
Ignoring her brother’s cryptic smile, Susan recalled the purpose of her visit.
“So, are you really getting married this time?”
“……”
“But why isn’t it Hazel?”
“That’s a question for Mother, isn’t it?”
“Are you saying you’ll marry whoever Mother likes?”
Stefan shrugged his shoulders as if he didn’t care about Susan’s astonished reaction.
“What are you thinking? This is someone you’ll spend your life with. So you should choose yourself.”
“This isn’t just about a personal marriage. It’s about welcoming the next Duchess of Edmond. Therefore, I need to find someone for the family, not just someone to my taste.”
“You’re really something. Don’t you have any romantic notions about marriage? Or have you secretly married someone from another continent?”
As Stefan shrugged nonchalantly again, Susan shook her head in disbelief.
Susan, who always carried herself with pride among the nobles, seemed to have an excessive fantasy about marriage.
“Don’t you care at all about the bride?”
“I’m not idle enough to worry about such things.”
Susan threw up her hands in exasperation at Stefan’s indifference and listed off information about the bride before leaving the room.
Rachel Burke, 20 years old. A beautiful young lady with pink hair and blue eyes. Though she’s the only daughter of a modest marquis, she’s been cherished and has grown up like a naïve princess.
“A naïve princess seems quite easy already…”
Stefan looked down with disdain at Rita, who was bustling about the expansive garden.
In the meantime, red rose bushes were being planted in the garden of the Duke’s residence. It was excessive to the point of being an obvious attempt to make Stefan’s red eyes stand out.
Moreover, wasn’t the bride supposed to have pink hair? On the wedding day, the bride, who should be the most beautiful, would be overshadowed by the intense red color.
Understanding his mother’s scheming, Stefan smirked wryly.
“Rachel Burke… What kind of story does my bride have that she has garnered even more intense dislike than Hazel?”
He now seemed to have developed a curiosity about his future bride.
***
The next day, the Burke Marquis’s residence was thrown into chaos by the arrival of the noisy carriages.
“Already here? I hope Leo isn’t too shocked…”
Rita’s selfishness remained consistent even in this life.
Her behavior, acting as if she was buying a bride with a dowry and not allowing the Burke siblings any time to mourn their parents, was indicative of her nature.
Rita had notified them through a letter that there would be no engagement ceremony or formal introduction, but rather an immediate wedding. Of course, she claimed it was due to the Duke of Edmond’s busy schedule.
In the past life, it had been frustrating to only see the groom’s face on the wedding day, but now that it was a familiar face, skipping the engagement and formal introduction seemed preferable.
However, the problem was that Leopold was deeply disappointed, unlike me.
“The wedding should be held at the bride’s family home, as per Merwin Empire tradition!”
Leopold, who rarely lost his composure, was trembling with anger while holding Rita’s letter. He was trying to compensate for the sense of self-loathing he felt for selling out his sister with the grand preparations for the wedding.
“Leo, I’m fine. It doesn’t matter where the wedding is held. As long as you and Remington are there…”
Rachel’s innocent words seemed to deepen Leo’s emotional turmoil, and his face crumpled with distress.
“Rachel, if you need anything, just ask. I’d even fetch the moon from the night sky for you…”
“Leo, save those words for your future wife.”
The word “wife” made the naïve Leopold blush. I hoped someone would come along quickly for such a gentle soul.
“Leo, please don’t die. You must meet someone you love and be happy in this life.”
After tightly holding Leopold’s hand and letting go, I earnestly instructed him and Remington on the next steps.
“Pack as lightly as possible.”
Remington, sensing that I might not return to the marquis’s estate, cautiously inquired.
“We can manage, but what about your belongings?”
“Send my things later. I’ll contact you once I officially become the Duchess of Edmond.”
“You have everything planned out, don’t you?”
I gave a shy smile at Remington’s not-quite-compliment.
The wedding was in three days, and since it took half a day to travel from Courtney to the Duke’s residence, we had to leave by the next morning.
Leopold, upset by Rita’s insolent letter, had sent Edmond’s carriage away in frustration, so our old, dilapidated Burke carriage, loaded with luggage, would likely reach the Duke’s estate only on the morning of the wedding.
“That won’t do. I have things to prepare for the wedding.”
And even if I packed everything, it was clear I wouldn’t be able to set foot in the Duke’s residence. In my previous life, all my belongings were burned.
***
Being sentimental, Rachel from the previous life packed many cherished items: dresses, jewelry, and favorite books.
As a result, the carriage, which arrived only on the morning of the wedding, had to leave the passengers and was confined to the stable.
After three hectic days of receptions and entertaining guests, Rachel, heading towards the stable, saw her belongings being thrown into a blazing fire and became as hard as a stone.
“Ah… no…”
As Rachel, weakened and sitting down, cried bitterly, Rita, who had mysteriously arrived, approached and whispered quietly.
“Dear, you passed by Fenton Harbor on the way from Courtney to the Duke’s estate, didn’t you?”
Rachel, stunned by Rita’s question, could only nod, unable to wipe her tears.
“There was an outbreak of illness there. So we had no choice but to burn all your things. Understand, dear?”
Rita, seemingly indifferent to Rachel’s acceptance, patted her shoulder and left.
“It’s a lie…”
If there had been an outbreak at Fenton Harbor, they should have canceled the wedding rather than burning the belongings. A mother who would be worried about her son catching an illness would never have let the wedding proceed.
That day, Rita had burned a bundle containing Rachel’s twenty years of memories.
***
The next morning, the Burke carriage moved lightly. With less luggage, the impatient driver was also driving the carriage leisurely.
Thanks to the relaxed pace, the Burke siblings made some memories. They enjoyed a hearty lunch at a famous restaurant in Fenton Harbor, known for its local specialties.
Remington, excited about his first visit to the Duke’s estate, fell asleep on his sister’s lap as soon as he got back into the carriage.
Leopold, sitting across from him, also closed his eyes quietly with his arms crossed. It was a peaceful scene, unlike the previous life.
Rachel was very grateful for the opportunity and relaxation given to her. She attributed it to the mysterious voice she had heard.
[I hope you become a parent who takes responsibility for your children until the end of this life.]
“Yes, I will definitely do that.”
Rachel softly whispered the answer she hadn’t yet given.
As the sun began to set, the fences indicating the Duke’s domain appeared outside the window.
When the white Duke’s residence, surrounded by green forests like a protective wall, came into view at the end of the land, Rachel’s heart started to race.
That racing was a mix of excitement for the upheaval that would occur at the beautiful Duke’s estate and anticipation for the refreshing uppercut she would deliver to Rita and Stefan.
As the sound of the horses’ hooves dwindled, the carriage came to a stop. Outside the window, long lines of servants showcased the Duke’s grandeur.
At the end of the line stood Rita and Stefan, looking exactly the same as in the previous life.
Stefan, dressed in a neatly fitting gray suit with a light blue shirt, had his silver hair impeccably groomed, as if he wouldn’t tolerate even a single strand out of place.
“Indeed, the ice sculpture is as impressive in this life as well.”
Rachel, with a relaxed smile, nudged her extremely tense brother’s knee to wake him.
“Marquis Burke, shall we go?”
“Uh… yes.”
Leopold, who had disembarked first, extended his hand to his sister in the carriage. Rachel, with a bright smile, firmly grasped his hand.
As Rachel walked to the entrance, she constantly whispered to her brother, gradually easing the tightness from Leopold’s face.
“Welcome, Marquis Burke.”
“Nice to meet you, Your Grace.”
Stefan, after giving Rachel a quick glance, smiled slightly and looked at Leopold standing in front of him.
“Since it’s almost dinner time, how about we discuss things over a meal?”
Just as Leopold was about to respond, Rachel interjected.
“Sorry, Your Grace. We must politely decline your dinner invitation. We’re feeling a bit unwell from the journey.”
Only then did Stefan’s gaze shift to Rachel. Unperturbed by his intense stare, she also noticed Rita’s bewildered expression beside her son.
“Everyone, don’t be too surprised. The real game hasn’t even started yet.”
